Grace Benjamin-Joshua is the director of Dizauregi Services, a start-up company established two years ago that produces chemical-free food products in Jos, the Plateau State, Nigeria, under the brand name UREGI.
Grace is a natural food enthusiast and lover of nature in general, started the business with a token gifted to her in 2018, she started from the comfort of her home, packaging mostly organic spices and other food products. She is also the founder of a nonprofit foundation, Dizauregi Foundation, where she gives back 5% of profits made from Uregi Business while seeking support from other well-meaning individuals to support the educational costs of Orphans. She is a visionary, Risk-taker, strategy analyst, Marketing personnel, spokesperson, and trainer.
Through her effervescent entrepreneurial prowess, her company has seen its turnovers grow since 2020, with a tremendous 108% growth in 2021, the second year of its full operations.
She’s recently recognised as one of the Top 50 remarkable founders by MSME Africa this year and we had the pleasure of chatting with her to know more about her journey into business, her mission, and her vision for the future.
What inspired you to start your own food business and motivated you to become an entrepreneur?
I happened to be a food enthusiast who loves cooking while experimenting with lots of our local spices and people appreciate my cooking a lot. At some point, I checked into some spices in the market and something within told me I can do something better than what I see in the market. That was just it! I was motivated by the fact that I wanted to make a difference in the industry, the highest point of my motivation is seeing people dying as a result of what they consume (artificially preserved food), I want people to eat right and that’s why my solution is bringing onboard natural food products.
You started with a small investment of N20,000 and have seen significant growth. What strategies or mindset helped you scale your business so quickly?
I think this is the main secret of my success, the mindset is to build a brand that outlived me this was what informed my strategies from day one of my business. It will interest you to know that while producing from the comfort of my house, I resume work at 8 am just like every corporate organization worker, I had a book that details everything I do daily. I was painstakingly doing this to be accountable to myself since I know that is how I’ll run when it becomes a global brand.
As the founder, you wear many hats, from visionary to marketer to spokesperson. What role do you enjoy the most, and why?
Well, all are very interesting but sincerely I’ll say I enjoy marketing my product/brand, it gives me joy to talk about what I’ve been able to develop as a solution to the world.
What motivates you to give back through your foundation and support orphans’ education? Why is this important to you?
An ad-hoc staff of mine at the early stage of my business came to work with a child of school age, while I enquired while she brought the child to work, I shockingly heard because of school fees, the amount was so ridiculous believe that’s why a child could be out of school. At that point, I knew there is ground to cover in that aspect. It’s important to me because I hate to see children out of school or see people around me agonizing because of some necessities.
What goals do you have for the wider impact you want your business to have beyond profits?
Making people aware of the importance of eating right for healthy living. Also, mentoring thousands or possibly millions of upcoming African entrepreneurs to be global leaders in their industry.
On a lighter note, how would you describe your personality? What 3 adjectives would your friends use to describe you?
A crazy goal-getter! Yeah, I’m unrepentant about that, I love to see my dreams coming through and I’m extremely passionate about it.
Three Adjectives?
Mercy Alao: (Smiles) Yes, please
Grace: Okay, they will definitely say, Visionary, Ambitious and a Pan-Africanist
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who want to produce more sustainable or ethical products?
My advice to them is simple, be committed to what you do. There are enough challenges, but they are all surmountable. Embrace mentorship, learn, and apply the knowledge learned. See you at the peak!
