Meet Entrepreneur Barde Gimbiya Henrietta, Founder Of Higim Food,
She Aspires To Own A Permanent Production Site With Atleast 30 Staffs

She’s a young under 30 entrepreneur, hardworking and determined.
Barde Gimbiya Henrietta is the founder of Higim Food, she got her inspiration to set up her business from a senior friend who was into finger millet processing, from there she got knowledge and started processing the grains by herself. She is an inspiration to the youth as she already has 5 employees.
She speaks to Elorasblog in this interview.

Please tell us a little bit about your background?

I am Barde Gimbiya Henrietta, i was born 25th November 1995. Did my secondary school in Our Lady of Fatima Girls’ secondary school kaduna. First Degree in Houdegbe North American University Cotonou , studied International Relations . Masters Degree in kaduna state university, studied masters in conflict, peace & strategic studies.

What was your dream profession growing up?

I always dreamt of being a medical doctor.

Can you share with me your journey to Entrepreneurship?

I am the founder of Higim Food,
I started with no external support, just saved a little for myself to start up.

Higim Food: where did you get the Inspiration?

I got my Inspiration from a senior friend who was into finger millet processing(Tamba in Hausa). I bought from her to resell to my Facebook and WhatsApp friends. When I started getting patronage she stopped producing due to unforeseen circumstances, so in order to keep my customers I started processing the grains myself.

Please can you also share with me the content of Higim food?

We have :
Finger millet powder (Tamba )
Tom Brown cereal
Fonio Cereal Blend (Acha powder)
Pure Fonio (Acha )
Tamarind Pap (kunun Tsamiya)
Beans flour
Spicy Yaji
Wheat flour

Photos of Higim Food

Why Did you choose the name Higim Food?

Higim Foods hmmmm…. HIGIM was my late dad’s idea ; our first born in the family, his name is Hillary and my middle name is GIMBIYA , so my dad picked the first two letters from Hillary and then first three letters from my name.

Many young youths like you have business ideas but lack the funds to start, what’s your take on this?

I’m one of the youths who loves business but I’m still yet to access funds to expand my business. Nigerian market is hard to penetrate especially with uncommon products like ours. Everything is time , just be consistent.

Did you attend any form of training before setting up this business?

I never attended any training, i browse a lot and google things I don’t understand.

Can you share with me the setbacks and challenges you’ve encountered in this business?

Omo set backs and challenges are much o. Like I said earlier, it’s very hard to penetrate the Nigerian markets. Sometimes you’ll go into a supermarket to advertise your products and they’ll reject it saying people do not know the products they’re afraid to buy and keep. Some said I didn’t have NAFDAC number etc .

I had to go register with NAFDAC , trades and Investments, CAC . Even with the registration now, still some shops and supermarkets won’t still buy , reason being that they’re uncommon products . My production site was vandalized by thieves early last year 2022. It took me time to buy another Miller.

What’s the best advise from your experience you can give to the youths who aspire to invest in a business like yours?

The best advice is for them to be consistent and seek more knowledge on how to do better.

Where do you see Higim food in 5 years?

Next 5years…… having a permanent production site with atleast over 30staff . We should be able to have atleast 1 major distributor in the 36 states of Nigeria.

How many staffs do you have at the moment?
5 staffs.

Email: elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com