Sanni Sheriff: From ₦10k to Nigeria’s Top Kitchen -

Early Hustle: The ₦10,000 Beginning

Before Sanni Sheriff became a celebrated chef, he was a student with a vision.
In primary school, he made and sold paper toys for five naira each.
By his second year at the University of Lagos, he was selling “jamwiches” bread, butter, jam, egg, and sardine for ₦60, complete with home delivery.
In 2011, with only ₦10,000 raised from selling his clothes and shoes, he officially launched Sannikayz Kitchen.

Challenges That Built Character

At the start, big clients felt unreachable.
Small size and limited funds made breaking into the elite market difficult.
His father doubted the business at first, but his mother backed him from day one.
As Sheriff balanced school and growth, even his dad joined the support team.

From Catering to ILÉ IYÁN

With over 15 years of dedication, Sheriff evolved from running a mobile kitchen to owning ILÉ IYÁN, Nigeria’s fastest-growing restaurant.
His training at the Culinary Academy in Lagos sharpened his craft, while his commitment to authentic flavors shaped ILÉ IYÁN’s identity.
Today, the restaurant is a go-to spot for lovers of Nigerian cuisine, known for both quality and creativity.

Sanni Sheriff and His Social Impact

Sheriff’s work goes beyond the kitchen.
Through his Feed the Kids Initiative, he has served over 120,000 meals in Lagos, Abuja, and Kwara.
The program also creates jobs for widows and women in underserved communities.
His dedication to social good earned him recognition from the Ecowas Youth Council as a Youth Ambassador.

Recognition and Influence

Over the years, Sheriff has received awards such as:

Sheraton Entrepreneur of the Year Nominee
Creative Man of the Year (Under 30 Achievers Awards)
JCI Entrepreneur Award
He has spoken at events like the Kano Youth Summit and The SME Roundtable, inspiring young entrepreneurs nationwide.

Why He Never Quit

Sheriff has faced low sales, stressed finances, and tough academic challenges.
But encouragement from people who admired his work kept him going.
He knew quitting would mean letting down those who saw him as a role model.

Sanni Sheriff’s Vision for the Future

Sheriff dreams of making ILÉ IYÁN the biggest food brand in Nigeria.
His goal is to serve at every event, open more restaurants, and grow mobile services nationwide.
He also plans to introduce advanced kitchen technology not yet available in Nigeria.