
By Ayomide Adegboro, Doreen Austins and Mercy Oluwadinmu
Life at the University Of Lagos can be summarised as hectic. After long days of classes, assignments, and work, students and staff flock to their favourite spots to eat, relax, and unwind.
Your favourite campus restaurants in UNILAG offer more than satisfying cravings. Amid the hustle and bustle of meeting the university community’s daily demands, many questions come to mind. The most striking is how they got to where they are and how they plan to progress.
These spots, be it for a quick meal, a chill spot, or just some time to decompress, have become an integral part of campus life. Yet, behind the familiar faces and favourite meals lie untold stories.
Through a series of interviews, UNILAG Sun shines the spotlight on these food spots to uncover the scenes behind these success stories.
Mavise
Mavise is widely known for being pocket-friendly. Mr Adeola Asunmo, the restaurant’s manager, revealed that they go to great lengths to buy foodstuffs directly from the manufacturers to achieve this without compromising on quality.
“For instance, I go as far as Sango to buy bags of beans,” he said.
Recently, Mavise underwent significant shifts through physical renovations, and its menu now includes swallows such as Amala and Pounded Yam. Explain the reasons for this, Asunmo said that it made for variety on the menu, which could, in turn, enhance the well-being of the students who patronize the store by increasing their satisfaction.
Iya Moria
Any list of swallow food in cosmopolitan Lagos can’t be complete without mentioning Amala. And in UNILAG, Iya Moria is synonymous with mouth-watering Amala. For over two decades, Iya Moria’s Buka has secured its place as one of the top restaurants on campus.
What’s even more fascinating is how it all began. Contrary to assumptions, Iya Moria didn’t start with Amala—or even close. The journey began with something simpler: Indomie noodles in a humble kiosk at Ozolua Rd in UNILAG.
The transition to Amala swallow was a result of the change of trends. Although Iya Moria’s shop has expanded and her offerings evolved, the staff still maintains high standards when it comes to cooking.
Ramot Yakubu, the founder of Iya Moria, emphasises the quality of her food, saying, “I will not serve what I can’t eat. “
Cafe One
Regarding aesthetic and quality standards, one cannot but speak of Cafe One, a new workspace and coffee outlet owned by Sterling Bank and located in the heart of UNILAG.
Mr Bryan Benson-Iloani, the manager, shared fascinating details about Cafe One.
“Cafe One is a coffee shop and a co-working space for all,” he said. It also serves as a digital banking hub for Sterling Bank’s customers to file complaints and resolve transaction issues. We offer financial services on their behalf.”
The cafe, launched in June 2024, offers other services, such as a podcast room, space rental, official spaces for individuals, and more.
Tek Kitchen, commonly referred to as CITS Beans.
Mrs Elizabeth Akomolafe, owner of Tek restaurant, renowned for her bread and beans, explained her commitment to quality food.
“If I’m buying pepper from the market, people usually ask me, are you sure you sell food with this pepper? Because the kind of pepper you buy is what people use to cook at home.”
Her dedication to quality meals has helped her business retain and grow its customers through word-of-mouth referrals despite its hidden location behind the CITS office.
Salado Restaurant
Sekinat Salado, the president of Salado Restaurants in Nigeria, revealed that word-of-mouth is another marketing tactic that Salado Restaurant uses to sustain sales. She added that she is confident in the quality of her food and services and trusts solely in that factor to attract and retain customers.
Salado also stands out for its student-friendly pricing. She revealed that unlike the other four branches of Salado in Lagos, the UNILAG branch offers the lowest prices.
AY’s Pizza
AY’s Pizza is another quality-oriented business that is opposite Jaja Hall. When asked about the challenges of its hidden location, the founder, Mr Ayotunde Akinsanya, stated that he had to rely heavily on word of mouth when he first started. As time went by, he became famous for doing what he did best.
Mr Ayo revealed that his mother was a baker, which inspired him to start the pizza business. He also shared his expansion plans, citing space constraints as a challenge he faces as a relatively new business in school.
These restaurants will always be an integral part of student life and, as such, offer space for mouthwatering meals, chilling, and opportunities for making unforgettable memories. Undoubtedly, many more stories lie beneath the food and ambience these places offer. These stories also make one appreciate the determination, consistency, and thriving mindsets these spots hold onto in their daily activities.
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