Faith Orugbani

To celebrate Black History Month, we spoke with Faith Orugbani, an accomplished USW alumni and co-founder of Manuelle Foods, a Nigerian family-owned food business based in Newport, South Wales. Faith shared her journey from studying a BA (Hons) in Business & Management to building a successful career in project management, as well as her deep commitment to her community and the significance of Black History Month.

Hi Faith! Please tell us a bit about yourself. Hi! I studied a BA (Hons) in Business & Management at the University of South Wales, graduating in 2014. I’ve lived in Newport since 2010, and I’m originally from Nigeria. I’m married with a five-year-old daughter, and my husband is also an alumnus of the University of Glamorgan, which is now part of USW. Together, we founded Manuelle Foods, a family-run Nigerian food business.

What inspired you to start Manuelle Foods? It started with a simple idea: to share our love for homemade, mouthwatering dishes with the community. My husband and I have always been passionate about food, and we wanted to create memorable experiences for people through great meals. It’s a way of staying connected to our roots while contributing to the diverse cultural fabric of Newport. We’re all about family, and that’s at the heart of everything we do. Our food business allows us to bring people together, creating moments of joy through shared meals.

What’s been your proudest moment in your career so far? There are a few moments that stand out. I always had very specific companies that I dreamed about working for when studying at USW, and getting to work for two of them after graduating was a literal dream come true.

For Manuelle Foods, the proudest moment so far has been partnering One with St. Stephen's Church in Newport for a "Community Eat Out Day," which celebrated cultural diversity with an international food tasting event. Seeing people come together and enjoy the flavours we introduced was incredibly rewarding. We’ve also donated cooked food packs to a Housing and Refugee Centre in Newport. It’s our way of giving back and doing our part to help those in need. These experiences make me proud because they’re not just about business, but about making a positive impact.

What does Black History Month mean to you? Black History Month means everything to me. It’s a time to reflect on how far we’ve come and the work we still need to do. As a Black woman, I’ve often felt like I had to work twice as hard to be recognised, not just in the workplace but in society. There are still biases that exist, but this month is a reminder that our contributions matter.

It’s also about shining a light on the incredible talents and achievements within our community that often go unnoticed. For me, it’s not just about celebrating Black people, but about building bridges and making sure everyone, regardless of race, feels seen and heard.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your footsteps? Be open-minded and don’t be afraid to ask questions. I’ve learned that there’s no such thing as a stupid question—if you’re wondering about something, chances are someone else is too. It’s all about making that move to seek answers and guidance.

I also believe in being realistic about your passions and interests. I initially wanted to study law but realised that business and economics were a better fit for me. Don’t be afraid to reassess your path if it doesn’t feel right. Lastly, it’s important to stay grounded and committed to making an impact, whether that’s through your work or your community.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I hope to be an established Senior Project Manager and achieve chartership in the Association for Project Management. I also want to expand my work as a mentor, guiding young people who are confused about their career paths, just like I was once.

Giving back is important to me—I’ve already started mentoring students, and I hope to grow that side of my work in the coming years. At the same time, I’d like to see Manuelle Foods grow and continue bringing people together through food, creating memorable experiences and making a difference in the community.

How did your time at the University of South Wales shape your journey? USW played a big part in shaping my journey. The diverse environment, the support from lecturers, and the hands-on approach really helped me develop both personally and professionally.

I loved the fact that I got to experience a bit of everything—business, economics, even law. It gave me a well-rounded foundation that I’ve built on throughout my career. The encouragement I received at USW, especially around bringing my cultural identity into my work, has stayed with me and influenced what I do today.