A Benue couple, Hon. Peter Abayol and Pastor Mrs. Ifeoma Abayol, has opened up on their entrepreneurial journey, detailing how their fast food venture — Chillis Foods —survived the odds and blossomed across Nigeria, with Anambra State proving to be their most receptive and fertile ground for growth.
In what can best be described as a journey fueled by passion and sustained by grace, the couple recounted how they have continued to leave a delectable imprint on the food and hospitality industry through their thriving culinary enterprise
In an exclusive interview, Pastor Mrs. Ifeoma Abayol, who hails from Enugu State by birth but is married to Hon. Peter Abayol from Benue State, narrated how her deep love for good food and the desire to serve quality meals in a serene environment spurred the idea of venturing into the fast food industry over a decade ago.
According to her, she often found herself disappointed by the quality of food served at most restaurants, which rarely met her taste standard. This recurring dissatisfaction, she recalled, rather than dissuade her, ignited a vision in her, gradually inspired and stirred up a desire in her to start something different — a food business that would replicate the delicious and satisfying taste of homemade meals.
Though the ambition was clear and the vision compelling, translating these into reality came with enormous challenges. Faced with the daunting task of executing what she described as a “gigantic project”, they had no financial muscle to start, while several banks turned down their requests for funding, insisting they lacked the necessary structural framework. Undeterred by rejection, however, she leaned on faith, resilience, and passion to stay the course.
“That made us go back to our savings, borrowed money from close friends and sold one or two properties that we acquired back then to start the business. So it was a very tough beginning but thank God for where we are today,” she recounted.
She revealed that the venture officially kicked off on May 19, 2012 with just one outlet, while two years later, they opened a second branch, and by 2021, Chillis experienced an explosive expansion, launching three additional branches in a year. That, according to her, marked a significant milestone in the journey, as it reinforced the brand’s growth and its acceptance by the public. As at May 2025, thirteen years after kick off, Pastor Abayol, said Chillis Foods has already built twelve branches across various states in the southeastern region and beyond.
Speaking on some of the major challenges she has encountered, she pointed to staff management as a persistent issue. She explained that the fast food sector typically witnesses high staff turnover, which they have not been exempted from. However, she further noted that as the business grew, it became easier to manage such transitions, since replacements could be made more seamlessly without disrupting operations.
In her words, what has sustained the business is not just consistency in operations but also consistency in taste. Many customers, she said, commend Chillis Foods for its home-like nature, which she considers one of their strongest selling points.
Interestingly, while many businesses struggled or shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pastor Abayol said Chillis Foods witnessed what she described as an “uncommon breakthrough.” According to her, with limited dining options available due to lockdowns then, many customers turned to Chillis for their food needs. That period, she observed, was both surprising and rewarding for the brand.
Pastor Abayol also shared insight about their expansion into Anambra State, which she said has been remarkably positive. She said from the construction phase to full operations, the people of Anambra showed strong support and warmth reception, which, she noted, contributed to the smooth establishment and growth of the business in the state.
“When it comes to warm reception, I’d say Ndi Anambra has done well… So, I give it to Anambrarians anywhere, anytime because they are so good to Chillis and they are the reason why we are here, and if you notice, majority of our branches are situated here,” she stated.
She further revealed that they source all their food items locally within the state, which not only reduces cost but also supports the local economy and farmers.
Recounting some of their impacts, Pastor Abayol proudly shared that the business currently has over 400 staff members on its payroll, which she described as one of her greatest joys, knowing that hundreds of homes are being sustained through her dream.
Her words: “We have over 400 people working with us and these are men and women with families. So being able to put food on their table is a thing of joy. Seeing that through you, they are able to earn a living is a thing of joy and that’s what we intend to achieve and by the grace of God, we are doing that.” These, she added, motivate her to keep going, even in the face of heavy losses and tough days.
Speaking further, she noted that one of the recurring operational challenges is the loss of perishable goods due to poor handling or mistakes by staff. At times, she lamented, such losses run into millions of naira. Nonetheless, she pointed out that festive periods such as Christmas bring in increased patronage, which helps the business recover from such setbacks and end the year on a high note.
Narrating how the business started , She said, “My husband was working in a bank and when we got married, he asked me what I wanted to do and I have always had the passion for cooking so I told him that I wanted to go into fast food business.
“Being a young man who loves his wife, he wasn’t really comfortable with my decision as he wanted me to work in a bank or other corporate organizations.
“It wasn’t in a bad light he objected for my going into the food industry, he just wanted more for me but I told him that it is what I really wanted, and I wasn’t really thinking about the money then; but with the way I was going about it, my husband decided to support me since I wasn’t talking about anything else aside fast food business. The truth is that we actually started it together.”
She emphasized the importance of growth, both personally and professionally, noting that she constantly enrolls in trainings and educational sessions, because, in her view, “once you stop learning, you start dying.” She also noted that branding has played a major role in building the business, pointing out that they invested in radio advertisements and other platforms from the early days to make Chillis a visible and relatable brand.
Beyond food, she explained that Chillis Foods now also provides event halls for weddings, conferences, and other social gatherings — a move aimed at diversifying their services and creating an all-in-one experience for customers.
She added that balancing her many roles as a wife, mother, businesswoman, and pastor has not been an easy ride. However, she believes that divine backing has been her greatest strength.
“When God gives you a vision, He also gives you the wisdom to pursue it,” she stated, revealing that the vision itself instills discipline, structure, and a sense of responsibility that enables one to manage multiple responsibilities effectively.
To young women and others aspiring to start their own businesses, the Chillis Foods Co-founder encouraged them not to let anything, especially fear or lack of capital, kill their vision, but to start in any little way they can, no matter how big or distant the dream may seems.
She also stated that she draws encouragement from other women in business, especially those who work harmoniously with their husbands. That kind of partnership, she said, gives her hope and reflects the beauty of mutual support in marriage and entrepreneurship.
When asked what defines a real woman in her view, Pastor Abayol said any woman who achieves success without sacrificing the peace and unity of her home is a real woman, emphasizing that women must learn to find balance between career and family, because both are essential to a fulfilling life.
On a lighter note, she revealed that contrary to what many might assume, she is not all about work, but also a lover of good music and and good dancer too.
Ultimately, Pastor Abayol attributed everything she has achieved to the grace of God. She was quick to emphasize that divine help has been her anchor through it all. While others may downplay the role of spirituality in business, she remains unapologetically convinced that God’s hand has been her greatest asset.
