- Season 2 | Episode 05
Snack-Sized Sustainability | SDG 2&5
Winifred Okafor shares how Bonita Foods redefines healthy snacking in Nigeria with nutritious, locally sourced products. The company promotes sustainable agriculture and inclusive economic growth by supporting local farmers, empowering women, upcycling food waste, making healthy food more accessible, and strengthening local economies.
Episode Introduction
Credo Voices, the podcast where we bring you inspiring stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I’m your host, Awele Okigbo, the CEO of Credo Advisory. For decades, the snack industry has been dominated by ultra-processed options, often lacking nutritional value. Studies have linked them to increased risks of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. In this episode of Credo Voices, we spotlight a changemaker tackling this issue, Winifred Okafor, founder of Bonita Foods, a leading snack brand based in Abuja, Nigeria.
Inspired by her frustration with low-quality snacks, Winifred turned a kitchen experiment into a thriving enterprise, now employing over 100 people. But Bonita Foods goes beyond snacks. It’s a movement that empowers women, supports local farmers, and promotes sustainability. By advancing SDG 2, Zero Hunger, SDG 5, Gender Equality, SDG 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, Bonita Foods is creating a meaningful impact. Join us for a conversation with Winifred Okafor about her innovation, empowerment, and sustainability journey.
Entrepreneur | Gender Advocate
Winifred Okafor is the Founder and CEO of Bonita Foods, a rapidly growing snack company based in Abuja, Nigeria. Through Bonita, she is transforming the snacking experience with nutritious, locally made fruit and nut products, now available in over 800 retail outlets nationwide.
Motivated by her passion for food and dissatisfaction with unhealthy snack options, Winifred established Bonita in 2017 to address a gap in the market. However, her mission extends beyond merely providing better snack choices; Bonita Foods also serves as a vehicle for social impact. The company employs an 80% female workforce, supports smallholder farmers with sustainable practices, and upcycles surplus produce to help reduce food waste.
Winifred brings nearly two decades of experience in corporate strategy, policy, and innovation. Her career began at KPMG UK and includes positions at the Infrastructure Bank of Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
She holds a first-class degree in Economics and Accounting from the University of Reading and a master’s in financial engineering from Imperial College London.
A mother of three, Winifred is building a business and shaping a food system rooted in health, equity, and resilience.
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