Patience Makwele
A Tsumeb-based entrepreneur is proving that some of the best business ideas can come from personal experiences.
Jamila Jokomo, a trained psychological counsellor and mother, has transformed her own breastfeeding journey into a growing online business that supports mothers across Namibia while encouraging young women to see challenges as opportunities for innovation.
What began as a personal solution during the early stages of motherhood has evolved into a business that now serves customers across the country.
Jokomo said the idea was born shortly after the birth of her firstborn daughter, when she was navigating the realities of exclusive breastfeeding.
“I used to make lactation cookies for myself and saw what a huge difference it made in my supply,” she said.
After sharing photos of the homemade cookies online, she was surprised by the response from other mothers.
“The response was unbelievable. I started to get orders from all over the country,” she said.
The growing demand inspired her to turn the idea into a business focused on supporting breastfeeding mothers through nutrient-rich snacks commonly known as lactation cookies.
For Jokomo, however, the business quickly became about more than selling products.
“I realised that my work would also involve counselling, sharing information and encouraging breastfeeding mothers to keep going,” she said.
As a trained counsellor, she found herself having conversations with women facing challenges that often go unnoticed, including exhaustion, anxiety, and the pressures of balancing family life with work and other responsibilities.
Many young mothers, she said, enter parenthood without fully understanding the emotional and physical demands that come with breastfeeding.
“Being in isolation without help and still being expected to hold everything together while keeping your baby alive with breastmilk is a lot,” Jokomo said.
Her experience reflects a growing trend among young Namibians who are using entrepreneurship to solve real-life problems within their communities.
Martha Uushona, a 28-year-old entrepreneurship student, said stories like Jokomo’s show that business opportunities do not always begin with large investments.
“Many young people think they need a lot of money to start a business, but sometimes the best ideas come from everyday experiences,” she said.
Uushona added that young entrepreneurs are increasingly creating products and services that address challenges within their own communities.
“People are no longer waiting for jobs. They are identifying problems and creating solutions,” she said.
For Jokomo, balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood has required discipline and determination.
She said there were times when managing family responsibilities alongside a growing business felt overwhelming, but having a clear purpose helped her stay focused.
“First, start with why,” she advised. “If you know the reason behind your dreams, it becomes easier to keep going, even in tough seasons.”
Youth business mentor and small enterprise advocate Hilaria Nangula Nambala said young entrepreneurs often underestimate the value of solving niche problems.
“Not every successful business has to target millions of people,” Nambala said. “Some of the strongest businesses are built around understanding a specific need and serving that market well.”
She said women-led businesses continue to play an important role in Namibia’s entrepreneurial landscape, particularly in sectors related to health, wellness and family support.
Jokomo believes young people should not allow life changes or unexpected responsibilities to stop them from pursuing their goals.
“Motherhood is not the reason to give up on yourself and your dreams,” she said.
“Motherhood is actually the highest initiation calling you forward into greatness, if you are open to see it and allow it.”
Today, as more young Namibians look for ways to create their own opportunities, Jokomo’s journey serves as a reminder that innovation can sometimes start in the most ordinary places, even a home kitchen.
“If you want to build a business, you have to build the people,” she said. “The people will build your business.”
