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culture. It helped us sort of remember
how small the world is.”
The name Nneji is another Igbo term,
which can simply mean “mother,” but
for Ajaero, it more accurately translates
to “May I never be disconnected from
my maternal heritage.”
The sentiment reflects the storefront
sign’s tagline: “Africa. Food. Kindred.”
While Ibari was already open before
the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Nneji
opened in June of 2020, in the midst of
the unprecedented time.
Ajaero said that while it was a tumultuous
period that required many
adjustments, her core team of three
family members helped the business
weather the storm of the pandemic
“by keeping operations lean.” She also
cites the Small Business Administration’s
resources and guidance as a
great help.
But the business woman places more
importance on her community and family’s
well-being, particularly during the
height of the pandemic when they made
sure their network was safe and fed.
Now, Ajaero is grateful for the support
she’s received from the immediate
community — from customers to
partnerships with fellow businesses
and advocacy groups like Queens Together.
“From day one, so many people
came by and just deposited a quarter
in our growth and welcomed us to the
neighborhood,” she said. “They really
gave us so much positive energy to go
forward.”
To learn more about Ibari and Nneji,
visit their Instagram page @ibari.nyc or
their website at nneji.business.site. Photos courtesy of Nneji
link
/BOROMAG.COM
