In a world where so many people spot problems and just throw their hands up in frustration, Abiola does the opposite, he dives in, gets to work, and creates change where it’s needed most.

With a heart full of compassion and a mind bubbling with creative ideas, Abiola has found ways to turn tough challenges into real opportunities, not just for himself, but for so many households battling food insecurity every day.

His journey as a Sociopreneur is such a powerful example of what it means to live with purpose.

He combines resilience, empathy, and innovation to build solutions that actually make a difference.

From founding Inspire Food Market to starting initiatives like Easyblurb NG and Virtual Teachers Connect NG, Abiola keeps proving that it’s action, not just good intentions, that brings true impact.

What I find especially inspiring about Abiola is how down-to-earth his story is.

He didn’t wait for someone else to step up, he asked himself, “Why complain when I can get involved creatively?” and then went ahead to do just that.

And since then, he’s been on a mission: making life better for others, one solution, one household, one community at a time.

In this interview, Abiola shares the heart and hustle behind her work, the lessons she’s learned, and how each of us can contribute to building a better society.

CA: Abiola, your journey as a Sociopreneur is truly inspiring! Can you take us back to how it all began? What inspired you to build Inspire Food Market?

Abiola: Thank you for this thoughtful question. It all started with a desire to positively contribute to society, coupled with a passion for enabling creative solutions to recurring social problems.

I asked myself, “Why just complain when I can get involved creatively?” The recent economic downturns and their harsh effects on the common man sparked the idea for Inspire Food Market, which aims to creatively contribute to food insecurity solutions and empower local households.

At a time, it became a norm to support quite a lot of people around financially for feeding daily. As much as I consider this a privilege, it was also a pointer that, as much as food is a basic need to survive, it is also a daily struggle for the average Nigerian.

Inspire Food Market wasn’t just born as an inspiration to me; I knew I had to bring it to reality. Our goal is not only to creatively contribute to food insecurity solutions but also to empower households at the local level.

CA: That’s so powerful, and it’s clear how deeply personal this mission is for you. Building a career in social enterprise and development requires vision and persistence. What was your journey like? Were there any key mentors or role models who guided you along the way?

Abiola: My journey in social enterprise was influenced by Ndidi Nwuneli’s impactful work in building social innovations in Africa. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with inspiring individuals like Debola Williams and Chude Jideonwo. While the journey hasn’t been without its challenges, I continue to adapt and learn as I grow.

CA: You mentioned challenges, that’s something every changemaker faces. What obstacles did you encounter in this space, and how did you navigate through them?

Abiola: As a social entrepreneur, I face unique challenges, from funding difficulties to sponsorship and partner scarcity. The best of us have had a share, but the satisfaction of creating solutions and achieving impact with my team, while sustaining ourselves, motivates me to keep moving forward.

CA: That resilience is so inspiring. What kept you going, especially during the tough early days of launching your initiatives?

Abiola: In my leadership roles, I’ve witnessed the struggles of young people, which deeply resonates with me. Launching Inspire Food Market showed me that our impact could extend beyond local boundaries, aligning with global goals.

CA: That’s beautiful. How would you say your background and experience shape the way you approach community-focused solutions today?

Abiola: I had always wondered how food aid initiatives end up in stampede situations when there are expert event planners who can be consulted to put proper structure into the planning and execution process. For me, it’s an added advantage to bring in my over 20 years’ experience and expertise in event planning into the food aid space.

CA: Interesting! Beyond Inspire Food Market, you’ve empowered many through Easyblurb NG, Virtual Teachers Connect NG, and  you’ve received numerous awards, including the MSME Innovation & Tech Award. How does it feel, knowing your work is making such a difference?

Abiola: Honestly, Seeing the real difference our work makes in people’s lives is incredibly rewarding. For us, positive impact isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a tangible reality, and we’re committed to creating more sustainable solutions and well-designed initiatives for Nigerians.

CA: That passion for impact really shines through. You’ve built a strong presence in the social impact space. What inspired you to begin sharing your knowledge and supporting youth and small businesses too?

Abiola: I have been privileged to learn by observation, access, and excellence. Today, being in a position where I am now able to develop initiatives that support young talents and small businesses is an avenue I am passionate and committed to.

CA: And what’s next? Are there any exciting upcoming projects or milestones we should watch out for?

Abiola: We’re excited about our upcoming projects, including a major impact milestone project in the entertainment industry next year. We’ll need your support to make it happen, so stay tuned!

CA: Definitely something to look forward to! What’s one common misconception about social entrepreneurship that you’d like to set straight?

Abiola: A common misconception is that NGOs and impact-driven enterprises are only after donations and not impact. It’s important to know that, be it a non-governmental entity or social enterprise, societal impact is really a non-negotiable factor for any intervention.

It can even be more daunting to get certain approvals, secure funding, or partnerships, but the passion to truly achieve impact helps us all to keep pushing.

CA: And finally, if you could give just one piece of advice to someone hoping to make a meaningful impact in their community, what would it be?

Abiola: I would say: whatever resonates with you, that you feel like doing, that truly impacts society? Do it. Start it as soon as you can.

Just imagine that I only had the idea to start Inspire Food Market and never did… Just imagine! Also, there’s an opportunity to come support what we do at Inspire Food Market.

We all should take up the responsibility of being active citizens who don’t wait for change, but also take up the challenge of becoming the change we want to see.