Meet the 6 owners behind Nigeria’s biggest fast-food chains

In this article, Intel Region highlights six owners behind some of Nigeria’s biggest fast-food chains that you should know. From humble beginnings to household names, Nigeria’s fast-food industry has grown through the efforts of entrepreneurs who turned their business ideas into successful brands.

Meet the people behind some of the country’s biggest fast-food chains, the businesses they built and the stories behind their success.

See below to discover the faces behind the brands.

1. Ebele Enunwa – Kilimajaro

Ebele Enunwa is the businessman behind Sundry Markets Limited, the company responsible for popular Nigerian retail and food brands, including MarketSquare and Kilimanjaro Restaurants.

Enunwa, who built his career in the banking industry before venturing into business, reportedly took a 70 per cent pay cut to pursue his entrepreneurial ambition.

He studied Accounting at the University of Ilorin and qualified as a chartered accountant before beginning his professional career at Deloitte. He later joined IBTC, now known as Stanbic IBTC Bank, where he rose through the ranks.

During his time in the banking industry, Enunwa became a regional manager based in Port Harcourt, overseeing banking operations across the South-East and South-South regions.

However, while working in Port Harcourt, he noticed a gap in the city’s food business, particularly the limited availability of organised fast-food outlets despite what he considered a growing market opportunity.

Rather than continue solely with his banking career, he decided to venture into the food industry.

In 2003, Enunwa incorporated Sundry Foods Limited, which commenced operations in September 2004. The company gradually expanded its operations and established food brands such as Kilimanjaro Restaurants and Nibbles Bread.

After building a presence in the food industry, Enunwa ventured into the retail supermarket business.

In 2015, he launched Sundry Markets Limited and opened the first MarketSquare supermarket in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The business was established to provide customers with an organised shopping experience, offering groceries, household products and other essential items at competitive prices.

Building a supermarket chain in Nigeria came with several challenges, including securing suitable locations, recruiting experienced employees, managing supply chains and dealing with rising operating costs.

Despite these difficulties, Enunwa continued expanding the business across different parts of the country.

By June 2026, MarketSquare had reportedly expanded into 16 cities, with the business credited with creating more than 4,000 jobs, according to Nairametrics.

Today, Sundry Foods and Sundry Markets have established themselves in Nigeria’s food service and retail sectors, with Kilimanjaro and MarketSquare among their recognised brands.

Enunwa’s journey from banking to building businesses in the food and supermarket industries has made him one of the entrepreneurs behind some of Nigeria’s familiar consumer brands.

2. Ibigbemi Oloruntobi – Item7Go

In 2012, Nigerian entrepreneur Ibigbemi Oloruntobi started a small food business near the University of Ilorin, catering to students in search of affordable and satisfying meals.

More than a decade later, the business has grown into Item7Go, a Nigerian quick-service restaurant brand with outlets in several cities, including Lagos, Ibadan and Ilorin, with an expanding presence in Abuja.

Oloruntobi, a Physics graduate of the University of Ilorin, identified an opportunity in the food industry by paying attention to the eating habits and needs of students around the institution.

He recognised the demand for convenient and affordable Nigerian meals and decided to build a business around it.

What started as a small campus food outlet gradually attracted more customers and expanded beyond its original location, eventually growing into a restaurant brand serving customers in different parts of the country.

Item7Go has built its business around familiar Nigerian meals, affordability and convenience, attracting customers looking for accessible food options.

Oloruntobi’s journey from running a small food business around the University of Ilorin to building a restaurant brand with outlets in multiple cities has attracted attention in Nigeria’s growing quick-service restaurant industry.

As Item7Go continues to expand, Oloruntobi remains the entrepreneur behind the brand’s growth.

3. Kehinde Kamson – Sweet Sensation

Kehinde Kamson is a Nigerian entrepreneur, businesswoman and philanthropist best known as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sweet Sensation Confectioneries Limited, one of the recognised fast-food restaurant chains in Nigeria.

Born on August 14, 1961, in Lagos State, Kamson was raised in a family of educators. She was born a twin and the youngest of six children. Her father, Adeleke Beniah Adelaja, was the principal of CMS Grammar School, while her mother, Omoba Adebayo Evangelin Adelaja, founded and managed Eva Adelaja Secondary School.

Growing up in an environment where education and hard work were highly valued, Kamson developed an interest in business from an early age.

She began her education at the International Women’s Society Nursery School in Lagos before attending the University of Lagos Staff School. She later proceeded to St. Anne’s School, Ibadan, and completed her A-Levels at Queen’s College, Lagos.

Kamson subsequently earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos and furthered her business education at Lagos Business School.

After graduating, she worked as a chartered accountant and became Chief Accountant at an oil services company, Lummus Crest. However, while building her professional career, she also developed an interest in entrepreneurship.

Her first business venture was a fish trading business known as Fish Mongers, where she sourced fish from local fish traders in Lagos and supplied customers. She operated the business for five years before shutting it down due to poor profitability.

Rather than abandon her business ambitions, Kamson turned to another interest she had developed since childhood: baking.

She established Citycate, also known as The City Caterers, a business specialising in pastries and cakes. The business attracted considerable demand, particularly from customers around Lagos.

At the beginning, Kamson reportedly woke up as early as 3 a.m. to bake and deliver orders before going to her accounting job. As demand increased, she eventually resigned from her employment to concentrate fully on the business.

One of her biggest markets was the University of Lagos, particularly its College of Medicine, popularly known as Medilag. Her customer base later expanded to include major businesses such as UTC and Leventis, as well as Mr Biggs.

Her business relationship with Mr Biggs lasted approximately four years and played an important role in shaping her ambitions in the fast-food industry.

In an interview, Kamson recalled how watching the restaurant’s employees count large amounts of money from daily sales inspired her to establish a restaurant business of her own.

Her experience supplying pastries to established food businesses gave her a better understanding of the industry and encouraged her to take the next step.

In 1994, she founded Sweet Sensation Confectioneries Limited, starting the business from a small backyard building that previously served as a gatehouse in Ilupeju, Lagos.

The restaurant initially operated on a modest scale, selling meals and snacks such as pastries, chicken, rice and ice cream.

Over the years, Sweet Sensation expanded its operations and developed into a quick-service restaurant brand with outlets in different parts of Nigeria.

More than three decades after its establishment, the company reportedly operates over 25 outlets across the country, employs more than 2,000 people and offers more than 60 varieties of meals.

Kamson has also focused on maintaining the company’s position in Nigeria’s competitive food industry through menu development, product quality, customer service and improvements in restaurant operations.

Beyond running Sweet Sensation, she serves as president of the Restaurant and Food Services Proprietors Association of Nigeria (REFSPAN), an organisation representing businesses in the country’s restaurant and quick-service food industry.

She is also involved in philanthropic activities through initiatives such as the Sweet Sensation Education Support Scheme, which provides assistance to students from low-income families and those with special needs.

The company has also supported food security interventions aimed at providing meals to underserved communities.

Despite the growth of her business, Kamson has spoken about the challenges she faced while building the brand, including limited capital, managing family responsibilities, logistics and maintaining affordable prices without compromising food quality.

Her business has also had to adjust to changing consumer preferences, economic challenges and increasing competition in Nigeria’s fast-food industry.

In addition to expanding her restaurant business, Kamson has expressed plans to establish a skill acquisition centre for undergraduates interested in culinary training and entrepreneurship.

The proposed initiative is expected to provide young people with practical skills and business knowledge that could help them establish ventures of their own.

From her early experience in fish trading and pastry production to building Sweet Sensation into a recognised restaurant chain, Kehinde Kamson has spent more than 30 years developing her presence in Nigeria’s food and hospitality industry.

4. Tastee Fried Chicken – Olayinka Pamela Adedayo

Olayinka Pamela Adedayo is a Nigerian entrepreneur and business leader best known as the founder of Tastee Pot Limited and De Tastee Fried Chicken (TFC), two established brands in Nigeria’s catering and quick-service restaurant industry.

Born on July 27, 1950, Adedayo holds a degree in Business Administration and Finance from Chicago State University in the United States.

After completing her education, she returned to Nigeria and joined the Federal Civil Service in 1981. She worked as an Administrative Officer at the Federal Ministry of Finance, where she served until 1990.

However, her interest in the food business had developed long before she established her companies. Adedayo reportedly discovered her passion for cooking and catering during childhood and later gained practical experience while working at Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Chicago, United States.

Between 1978 and 1980, she worked with the American fast-food company and eventually became a store manager. The experience exposed her to the operations of the quick-service restaurant industry and strengthened her ambition to establish a food business in Nigeria.

After leaving the Federal Civil Service, Adedayo ventured into entrepreneurship and established Tastee Pot Limited in 1991. The company started as a modern outdoor catering business, providing food services for different occasions and customers.

Following the acceptance of Tastee Pot, she expanded her business interests by establishing De Tastee Fried Chicken, popularly known as TFC, which became one of Nigeria’s pioneering quick-service restaurant brands.

Through both companies, Adedayo built a presence in Nigeria’s food service industry, offering catering services and restaurant meals to customers.

Beyond her business activities, she has also played a role in the development of Nigeria’s restaurant industry.

She was the pioneer National President of the Restaurant and Food Services Proprietors Association of Nigeria (REFSPAN), formerly known as the Association of Fast Foods Confectioners of Nigeria (AFFCON).

Her involvement in the association focused on representing businesses in the food service industry and supporting the growth of the sector.

Adedayo is also involved in philanthropic activities. She serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Bunmi Adedayo Foundation (BAF), established in memory of her late son, Oluwabunmi Adedayo.

The foundation was created to preserve his values and commitment to helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds access quality education and achieve their ambitions.

Over the years, Adedayo has received several awards and recognitions for her contributions to entrepreneurship, the quick-service restaurant industry and humanitarian activities.

Some of the recognitions include the City People Brands Awards, CFI.co Community Engagement Awards, Lagos Enterprise Awards and awards from the Lagos State Ministry of Education, alongside other humanitarian honours.

From working as a store manager at KFC in Chicago to establishing Tastee Pot and TFC in Nigeria, Olayinka Pamela Adedayo has spent decades building businesses in the country’s catering and fast-food industry.

5. Sani Sheriff – Ile Iyan 

Sanni Sheriff is a Nigerian entrepreneur and executive chef best known as the founder of ILÉ IYÁN, a traditional Nigerian restaurant brand recognised for its pounded yam dishes and other local delicacies.

Sheriff started the business in 2009 while studying Systems Engineering at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). What began as a small food venture in his student hostel room, Room B312, gradually developed into a restaurant business.

At the beginning, he prepared sandwiches and provided catering services to students and other customers within the university community.

As demand increased, Sheriff expanded the business beyond the hostel, establishing a restaurant on campus before introducing food trucks and opening physical outlets in different locations.

The brand, ILÉ IYÁN, translates to “Home of Pounded Yam”, reflecting its focus on traditional Nigerian meals and local food culture.

Over the years, the restaurant has grown beyond its original base in Lagos, with outlets in areas such as Lekki and Yaba.

Sheriff has also taken the business beyond Nigeria, expanding its presence internationally with a restaurant location at 369 Keele Street in Toronto, Canada.

Through ILÉ IYÁN and related business ventures, including SANNIKAYZ Global, the entrepreneur has continued to develop his presence in the food and hospitality industry.

Beyond the restaurant business, Sheriff is also involved in social impact initiatives through his Feed the Kids programme, which provides meals and educational support to children across Nigeria.

The initiative aims to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds by addressing their food and educational needs.

From preparing sandwiches in a University of Lagos hostel room to building a Nigerian restaurant brand with an international presence, Sanni Sheriff’s journey reflects his growth in the country’s food and hospitality industry.

6. Deji Akinyanju – Chicken Republic 

Deji Akinyanju is a Nigerian entrepreneur and business executive best known as the founder of Food Concepts Plc, the company behind popular fast-food chain Chicken Republic.

Akinyanju established Food Concepts in 2001, with the aim of building a food service business capable of developing and managing restaurant brands in Nigeria and other African markets.

He obtained his undergraduate degree and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Cardiff University in the United Kingdom. Before returning to Nigeria, he spent approximately 16 years working in the UK, including a period at Accenture, formerly known as Andersen Consulting, in London.

His decision to return to Nigeria was driven by his desire to contribute to the country’s private sector and explore business opportunities.

After establishing Food Concepts, Akinyanju began developing its presence in Nigeria’s food and hospitality industry, initially working with franchise brands before creating businesses of its own.

One of the company’s major milestones came in 2004 when it launched Chicken Republic, a quick-service restaurant brand specialising in chicken-based meals, rice, burgers and other fast-food products.

The first Chicken Republic outlet opened in Apapa, Lagos. The business later developed into one of Nigeria’s recognised fast-food chains, expanding into several states and extending its operations to Ghana.

Food Concepts also developed other food businesses, including Butterfield Bakery, PieXpress and The Chop Box, as it expanded its interests across different segments of the food industry.

In the early stages, Akinyanju relied on approximately $2 million raised from family and friends to finance the business. As the company expanded, it secured additional funding to support its operations and establish more outlets.

In 2008, Food Concepts reportedly raised $30 million to support its expansion plans. The company also secured financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to strengthen its operations, corporate governance and food safety standards while supporting its entry into the Ghanaian market.

To improve the supply of chicken to its restaurants, Akinyanju also ventured into poultry farming through Ganic, a business established to support the company’s supply chain.

On May 10, 2009, Food Concepts changed its corporate structure from a private limited liability company to a public limited liability company, adopting the name Food Concepts Plc.

Through the years, Chicken Republic has remained the company’s flagship brand, with its restaurants serving customers across Nigeria and other markets.

Beyond his involvement in Food Concepts, Akinyanju has also served as a director of the Nigerian International Franchise Association, an organisation connected to the development of franchising and business expansion in the country.

His journey from working in the United Kingdom to establishing a Nigerian food service company reflects his involvement in the growth of the country’s quick-service restaurant industry.

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