From Law School to Food Truck: How Jemima Yakubu Built a Thriving Nigerian Cuisine Business

What happens when a law student discovers a simmering passion for cooking in a college dorm room? For Jemima Yakubu, the answer was clear: follow the flavor. Known today as Chef Mimah, Yakubu put her legal ambitions on temporary hold to launch a successful food truck business that brings authentic Nigerian cuisine to the streets of Baltimore and beyond.

A Culinary Awakening in a Dorm Room

While studying to become an attorney, Yakubu began preparing meals for friends from the confines of her college dorm. What started as a practical solution for hungry classmates soon revealed itself as something more profound—a calling. The sizzle of spices and the communal joy of shared meals awakened a passion that law books couldn’t match.

“I put law school on hold because this was really my dream,” Yakubu explained in an interview with WMAR. “I wanted to kind of start the business and get it to where I want it to be and then head back into law school and eventually become an attorney.”

This wasn’t a rejection of her legal aspirations but rather an embrace of an unexpected opportunity. Sometimes the most fulfilling journeys aren’t the ones we plan but the ones that find us when we’re busy making other plans.

From Vision to Reality: The Food Truck Certification

In October 2023, Yakubu took a decisive step toward her culinary dreams by earning her food truck operator certificate at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC). The program provided crucial “hands-on training in food truck logistics, financial management and regulatory compliance,” according to CCBC’s success story profile of Yakubu.

The certification program proved invaluable, offering practical knowledge from industry experts that helped her navigate the complex challenges of food truck operation. “With lessons from instructors and industry experts, Yakubu learned how to navigate the challenges of running a food truck and manage costs effectively,” she noted.

Perhaps most importantly, the program helped her refine her business plan. “The program also helped me refine my business plan, ensuring I had a solid strategy to grow and sustain my brand,” she added. This strategic foundation would prove essential when she launched her business just two months later in December 2023.

Bringing West African Flavors to the Streets

Today, Chef Mimah’s food truck serves popular Nigerian dishes like Jollof Rice and Egusi, introducing West African flavors to communities where this cuisine has traditionally been inaccessible. Her mission goes beyond mere food service—it’s about cultural exchange and sharing the culinary traditions she grew up with.

“It’s always exciting to hear from people who haven’t actually tried Nigerian food before,” Yakubu shared, highlighting the joy of introducing new flavors to curious customers.

Why choose a food truck over a traditional restaurant? For Yakubu, the answer lies in mobility and accessibility. “Which is why I actually started a food truck, instead of like a restaurant or like a carry out. But I wanted to take this everywhere to different places so I can actually take the food to the people,” she explained.

This strategic decision has allowed her business to appear at numerous events across Baltimore since 2023, including festivals like Afram, bringing Nigerian cuisine directly to diverse communities.

Honoring Heritage Through Food

Yakubu’s culinary inspiration comes from a deeply personal place. “Growing up in Nigeria, I watched my mother, a caterer with over 25 years of experience, create dishes that brought people together. I wanted to offer that same experience here,” she reflected.

This connection to her roots and family tradition infuses her business with authenticity and purpose. She’s not just selling meals; she’s continuing a legacy of culinary excellence and community building that spans generations and continents.

Balancing Two Passions: Food and Law

Despite her success in the food industry, Yakubu hasn’t abandoned her legal aspirations. She maintains a part-time position as a paralegal while operating her food truck, demonstrating remarkable dedication to both her current business and future goals.

“I do part-time paralegal work for a law firm and I do my food truck and the rest of the things when I’m not working at that law office, but long term, I want to become an attorney,” she explained. “But I am going to keep my business going and I eventually want to have more food trucks in different parts of Maryland.”

This dual-path approach reflects a growing trend among modern entrepreneurs who refuse to be limited to single career identities. Yakubu embodies the possibility of pursuing multiple passions simultaneously, challenging the conventional wisdom that we must choose one professional identity.

The Immigrant Experience and the American Dream

Research from Remitly shows that more than 42.4 million immigrants live in the United States pursuing opportunities and dreams. Many maintain belief in the American Dream despite political challenges and daily obstacles. Through her food truck business, Yakubu is already living that dream—creating opportunity through hard work, innovation, and cultural preservation.

Her story represents the best of immigrant entrepreneurship: bringing unique cultural offerings to the American marketplace while building economic security and community connections.

Advice for Aspiring Food Entrepreneurs

For those inspired by her journey, Yakubu offers practical wisdom: “Be ready to learn, adapt and put in the work. If you stay committed, the journey is incredibly rewarding.”

This advice reflects the reality of food entrepreneurship—it requires flexibility, continuous learning, and perseverance. The restaurant industry has one of the highest failure rates, but food trucks can offer a more accessible entry point for culinary entrepreneurs with limited capital.

A Recipe for Success

Jemima Yakubu’s story offers powerful ingredients for success: the courage to pivot when discovering new passions, the wisdom to seek proper training, the strategic thinking to choose the right business model, and the determination to pursue multiple goals simultaneously.

As she continues to expand her food truck presence while working toward her law degree, Yakubu embodies the modern multifaceted professional—refusing to be confined to a single category while excelling in multiple domains.

Her journey from dorm room cooking to successful food truck entrepreneur serves as inspiration not just for aspiring chefs but for anyone considering an unconventional path to professional fulfillment. Sometimes the most rewarding careers aren’t found in straight lines but in the delicious detours that allow us to share our heritage and passion with the world.