SOME OF OUR GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES STIFLES GROWTH IN BUSINESS - FISRTLADY

Roekif castle company which has been in existence for over 3 years with interest in events management, restaurants/bar service and online food delivery service, industrial catering/culinary services, launches a new magnificently-designed and sophisticated restaurant outlet at 7,  Fetuga street ladi lak Shomolu Lagos. The ever-bubbling restaurant is an arena of goodies where quality, healthy, tasty, freshly prepared dishes and natural blended nutritious juice are served to valued customers who are treated like kings and queens.

It is then of no surprise that when you step in, you are left with a feeling of never wanting to leave.

Roekif prides itself in its innovative ways of keeping customers excited and coming back. Its ever-expanding menu is made up of local/intercontinental delicacies you know and love as well as a fusion of fresh tastes from all over the world.

You will also be thrilled at the generous and affordable prices of these salivating dishes as you are tempted to eat more and more even when you are satisfied.

Some of the overwhelming advantages of patronizing roekif  restaurant is the unique, stunning interior designs, the breathtaking environment, pocket friendly and salivating dishes that makes you hungry at first sight. 

The kitchen is run by the dynamic culinary master, Chef Enoima Firstlady Francis. in an exclusive interview with City Pride Achievers Magazine Fisrtlady revealed the exceptional things she does that keeps Roekif castle afloat.

Excerpts; 

Q - Tell me about yourself.

Ans - My name is Enoima Firstlady Francis, a graduate of Yaba College of Technology where I studied Business Administration and Management studies. I have a professional certificate in project/ facility management (CIPFM) and I became chartered and a member of project/facility management. After my Youth service I got a contract job at Multichoice Nigeria (DSTV/GOTV) as a customer Relation Service/Experience. While I was with Dstv, I was also studying with the world chef academy to become certified Chef. I am currently managing my business ROEKIF CASTLE in Lagos State where we currently service about 50 customers per week offering nutritious and healthy meals at affordable prices. I have passion for learning new skills and volunteering as a means of giving back to the community.

I also bake and do more art & craft at my leisure time.

Q - Tell me about your restaurant. 

Ans - The name of my company is Roekif Castle. Roekif Castle is an event management, catering/culinary service, Restaurant/bar service and online food delivery service. We create an avenue for youth and women empowerment through our business opportunities.

Roekif Castle events and Restaurant works hand in hand. Roekif Restaurant is a company with friendly customer service providing quality, healthy and tasty nutritious meals in local/intercontinental delicacies at a generous and affordable price.

Our main menu for the restaurant/bar comprises nkwobi with periwinkle & plantain, Isi ewu, edita iwa with, pastries/snacks. We also provide a fresh and tasty Edikang ikong soup, Atama soup, Afang soup, white soup, Egusi soup, Ewedu, Amala and other top African dishes which our country Nigeria is noted and celebrated for.

Q - What's your own style?

Ans - Strictly African and we are very different from the rest because we come with fresh ideas and varieties of food to satisfy our prospective customers. 

Q - What are you doing differently from other restaurants that is most likely to make you stand out? 

Ans - Freshly prepared dishes and natural blended nutritious juice.

The idea behind this is. We don't carry prepared food over to the next day for sales as we have to maintain our standard by serving healthy nutritious food to our valued customers. So, it is prepared as ordered and served fresh. we also have partnerships with farmers who supply our orders as customer need.

Q - What skills are you most proud of? 

Ans - Creativity in my Business line. All our staff specialise in cooking a particular dish and it is tasted by our chief chef before we send it out.

Moreover, we also organise quarterly training for our staff on how customers should be treated with courtesy and respect because they are our kings.

Q - Why did you venture into Restaurant Business? 

Ans - Growing up I spent tremendous time on the farm with my mom planting vegetables, legumes and spices after school hours. My mom used to make her special sauce with fresh ingredients from the farm. She believes in a healthy and natural way of cooking food. So as a little girl I learnt the secret of using natural spices to cook. Also catering for people was my mom's secret, people in our community, church will always want her to cook for them. so, I love the sight of, taking care of people and seeing people getting better after eating and the smiles on their faces makes me love cooking and the passion keeps growing.

It gives me joy to see people happy after eating my mom’s meal and the feedback was always encouraging. 

So I made up my mind to venture into this passion by creating employment for our young adults through cooking healthy food and serving others. 

Q - How do you handle difficult and unreasonable customers? 

Ans - Thank you very much. This is a very good question I must confess.

Well, Difficult and unreasonable customers abound in all business lines including the Hospitality sector, so for us, we try as much as possible to give them listening ears to correct and avoid their complaints next time.

Other options are to provide Strategy tools for grievance mechanisms to help track their complaint and improve on them going forward.

I'm extremely receptive as my customers are the best people to help me improve on my business through their feedback.

Q - Can you say restaurant business is lucrative?

Ans - Restaurant Business is a very Lucrative Business but we need Government intervention to provide an enabling environment to enable us strive. For example, we need good roads for our products to be transported. We need steady power supply to keep our food fresh and healthy. We need tax relief to be able to provide quality service to our people. We also need corporate patronage to succeed as they can order in bulk for their staffs and referrals too. 

 Q - What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a restaurant?

Ans -Well, the advantages of owning a restaurant are to provide employment for our youths who are roaming the street looking for nonexistence Government jobs which are very scarce and not available to all.

Now coming to the disadvantages, well the stress of cooking is very prevalent in business. Secondly, some of our government’s policies stifles growth in the business and finally, we lack soft loans and government grants to grow our businesses.  

Q - What words of advice would you give to someone aspiring to venture into a restaurant business? * 

Ans - Do a market survey, try something exceptional.

Be Creative, have a Standard, and Improve on it to meet up customers demand. 

Finally, have a business plan and a feedback mechanism to measure your success and pitfalls too.