Konnected Minds Podcast with Derrick Abaitey
Konnected Minds Podcast with Derrick Abaitey
Konnected House
The Man Who Used $10 to Change his Entire Life and Built a Successful Business in Africa
1 hour 14 minutes Posted Sep 18, 2026 at 8:55 am.
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What if your degree is not enough to build the life you want?
Chef Sheriff Sanni went from selling sandwiches for ₦16 as a university student, struggling academically with a 1.9 GPA, and eventually sleeping in his food truck - to building a successful restaurant business and taking Nigerian food and culture beyond Africa.
But his story is about much more than food.
In this powerful episode of Konnected Minds, Sheriff Sanni opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, failure, poverty, education, skills, family pressure, building a business in Africa, and what it really takes to keep going when everything seems to be working against you.
He shares how he started with just ₦10,000, why he believes young Africans should build practical skills alongside their degrees, what he learned from repeatedly losing business locations, and how one Nigerian dish - pounded yam - helped transform his restaurant business.
Guest: Chef Sheriff Sanni - Nigerian executive chef, entrepreneur, and the visionary founder of ILÉ IYÁN. He has built a massive culinary brand centered around traditional Nigerian and Yoruba culture, elevating everyday local delicacies into a globally recognized dining experience.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanni-sheriff-1075104a/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/chefsanni/?hl=en
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🎙️ ABOUT THE HOST
Derrick Abaitey is a Ghanaian entrepreneur, podcast host, and personal development advocate.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/derrick.abaitey
Web: https://abaitey.com/