Taiwo Ajala, the owner and CEO of the Suya Spot (SuyaNation) in Toronto, Canada is an amiable fellow, entrepreneur extraordinaire and a cultural icon. He is promoting the Nigeria cultural heritage on the global stage with the popular barbeque, Suya. Africans and non-African in Toronto and beyond have now accepted the Suya as part of their cuisine.
The Suya Spot is a renowned one stop outfit for entertainment and relaxation. In this interview with Akin Akingbala, Vice President and International Correspondent of ARM, Taiwo takes us through the evolution of the Suya Spot and his aspirations for the future.
How was your growing up years taking into account that you lost your father when you are at a tender age?
When my father died we went from the standard middle class family to poor .The hardships that came with being poor gave me the drive to succeed and made me understand the realities of life sooner than most. It also taught me that as a fatherless child, failure in anything l did was not an option. I became daring to prove l had no fear. Took risks to achieve my goals, worked harder to never be poor again and prayed more to God`s grace to bless everything l did. In short l grew up too fast.
You are born in Canada but raised in Nigeria, in what ways is these cross of cultures helped in shaping the person you are today?
I had the best of both worlds and l`m grateful. Nigeria is a country rich in culture and l decided to be in the business of one of the best cultures of them all- FOOD. Not just any food but Suya which dates back hundreds of years. My culture and heritage is all in the SUYA but my drive, growth, security and home is all Canada. I would not be who l am without one or the other.
Before the establishment of the Suya spot what were you doing? And what inspired or led you to the establishment of the Suya spot?
Before ‘The Suya Spot’, I owned a Direct Sales company. What led to this establishment was a moment in my life when l was at a crossroads. Times where changing after 9/11 and the sales market was changing for the worst. That`s when l decided to risk it all by going back to the basics. Growing up in a family of 4 boys, my mother taught us how to cook and who doesn’t love food. That and a need to bring people together though food, music and dance African style. You see you can take the boy out of Africa but you can`t take Africa out of the boy.
The Suya spot has evolved over the years, could you expatiate on this with emphasis on your menu and other activities available at the Suya Spot?
Yes, we`ve evolved thanks to the SUYANATION for their continued support. Our menu consists of 4 types of authentic suya-Beef Suya, Goat Suya , Mixed Suya and Chicken Suya. We marinate our meat in authentic suya spices and peanut sauce. We also have moi moi which is a steamed beans cake, talk about guilt free goodness. Fried Plantain to add a little sweetness to the heat and our fish that’s guaranteed to have you coming back for more. The Suya Spot is home to dine and dance experience, after you eat you`re bound to dance. Our weekly line up will take you on a wild fun journey from Live band Wednesdays to Sunday Fun-day and everything in between.
How would you describe the profile of your customers?
The profile of our customers at SUYANATION is anyone and everyone, from any country, every country and exudes the spirit of TOGETHERNESS. The way l sees it Suya is in every country in different names. The one dish that unites us all-SUYA!
What are you doing in the area of expansion? Do you have outlets in other areas in Canada, and possibly in Nigeria?
In terms of expansion we work on it every day. It is our wish and prayer to have a Suya Spot in every major city in Canada. At the moment we have another Suya Spot in Ottawa, hopefully more by the end of the year.
As a successful Nigerian businessman in Diaspora, what’s your take on the smooth transition of government in Nigeria and what agenda would you set for the Buhari’s administration?
My take is Nigeria deserves the best and is not only due for change, but has earned it. The immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan must be commended for putting the country first and conceding defeat. In as much as the change euphoria rent the air, President Muhammadu Buhari knows it’s not uhuru yet. The country is facing a lot of challenges, we can only pray, support and wish him success. In my opinion First Agenda should be to protect the people from terrorists, corruption and poverty.
In what areas do you think Nigeria can learn and benefit from Canada?
The biggest thing we can learn from Canada is how to use our natural resources take care of our people and have no child under the poverty line or without education.
What’s your typical day like and tell Nigerians about your family?
I haven`t had a typical day in 10 years because it varies from day to day and just when l think l have it figured out ,l learn otherwise the hard way. Everything must be done, let`s just say if l get 4 hours of sleep a night l`m lucky. We are open daily you know. It is my plan to expand across all the nooks and crannies of Canada and possibly beyond. Suya is for everybody, young and old. Suya is a cuisine that can be enjoyed at anytime and anywhere.
