LOOM Magazine

How Barbara Okereke-Ndugbu is Icing Nigeria’s Hospitality Crown with Oven Secret

Barbara Okereke‑Ndugbu is the visionary behind (est. 2015). She is a powerhouse of creativity and precision. Trained in Electrical Engineering and holding an MBA in Oil & Gas Management , she pivoted into cake artistry at London’s Fair Cake culinary school .

From training at the Fair Cake Culinary School in London to serving up elaborate 7-foot inauguration cakes for governors, she built a name on precision, soul, and aesthetic power.

She moved her operations to Lagos in 2016 and scaled her business with a fierce determination to blend elegance with excellence. Today, Oven Secret is not just a bakery—it’s a symbol of luxury events in Nigeria, where every design tells a story, and every layer is stitched with meaning.

Her impact is nothing short of remarkable. She has crafted over 1,000 custom cake designs for weddings, government events, brand launches, and celebrations that mark life’s most emotional moments. She delivers up to 45 personalized cake orders every month, even through economic downturns and supply-chain struggles.

Through Oven Secret Academy, she has trained more than 500 students, equipping aspiring bakers with both skill and structure to launch their own businesses and create ripple effects of economic empowerment across the country.

In 2020, in the heat of Nigeria’s movement, while many closed shop, Barbara responded with solidarity—in the form of cake.

At just 28, she was named to Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list, becoming one of the first cake artists in the region to achieve that milestone. A year later, The Guardian listed her among Nigeria’s 100 Most Inspiring Women.

In a sector that too often overlooks the quiet artistry behind celebration, Barbara Okereke-Ndugbu is setting new standards.

Olajide Abiola’s Gidanka Sets New Standards in Nigeria’s Hospitality Landscape
abiola is the Founder and CEO of Smart Residences Ltd. ( ), a brand redefining what it means to feel “at home” while away. With over 30 fully automated apartments already reshaping short- and mid-term stays in Abuja, and a target of 200 units within two years, Gidanka is a symbol of design-forward, tech-powered hospitality built on trust and excellence.

When guests walk into a Gidanka apartment, they don’t just check into a space, they enter a story. A story of curated comfort, digital ease, and an African brand rewriting the rules of luxury living.

Each apartment, be it in Wuse, Garki, or Jabi, is fitted with smart check-in systems, zero paper processes, and sleek, functional designs. Guests receive entry codes before arrival, request concierge services via WhatsApp, and never need to queue at a front desk.

But the crown jewel is The Destination; a 110-unit luxury residence in the heart of Abuja. Built in just 13 months with over ₦3 billion in capital, this architectural marvel boasts the tallest serviced apartment complex outside Abuja’s CBD, five external elevators, meeting rooms, and residences ranging from studios to four-bedroom penthouses and a capacity hall to host events or conferences for both relaxations and informal private meetings.

The brand has hosted global names like , and continues to attract high-net-worth clients, corporate travelers, and luxury seekers from around the world. And it’s only getting started.

Abiola’s success, however, isn’t just measured in real estate metrics. It’s in the ripple effect: the dozens of jobs created, the local artisans employed, the standard raised for African excellence. It’s in the over ₦13 billion in digital transactions he previously facilitated through fintech innovation, or the agricultural production lines he oversees through his company .

Olajide Abiola’s commitment to innovation and quality has positioned Gidanka as a leader in Nigeria’s hospitality sector, setting benchmarks for others to follow.

Olajide Abiola's Gidanka Sets New Standards in Nigeria's Hospitality Landscape

Olajide Abiola is the Founder and CEO of Smart Residences Ltd. (Gidanka), a brand redefining what it means to feel “at home” while away. With over 30 fully automated apartments already reshaping short- and mid-term stays in Abuja, and a target of 200 units within two years, Gidanka is a symbol of design-forward, tech-powered hospitality built on trust and excellence.

When guests walk into a Gidanka apartment, they don’t just check into a space, they enter a story. A story of curated comfort, digital ease, and an African brand rewriting the rules of luxury living.

Each apartment, be it in Wuse, Garki, or Jabi, is fitted with smart check-in systems, zero paper processes, and sleek, functional designs. Guests receive entry codes before arrival, request concierge services via WhatsApp, and never need to queue at a front desk.

But the crown jewel is The Destination; a 110-unit luxury residence in the heart of Abuja. Built in just 13 months with over ₦3 billion in capital, this architectural marvel boasts the tallest serviced apartment complex outside Abuja’s CBD, five external elevators, meeting rooms, and residences ranging from studios to four-bedroom penthouses and a capacity hall to host events or conferences for both relaxations and informal private meetings.

The brand has hosted global names like META, and continues to attract high-net-worth clients, corporate travelers, and luxury seekers from around the world. And it’s only getting started.

Abiola’s success, however, isn’t just measured in real estate metrics. It's in the ripple effect: the dozens of jobs created, the local artisans employed, the standard raised for African excellence. It’s in the over ₦13 billion in digital transactions he previously facilitated through fintech innovation, or the agricultural production lines he oversees through his company Jendo.

Olajide Abiola’s commitment to innovation and quality has positioned Gidanka as a leader in Nigeria's hospitality sector, setting benchmarks for others to follow.