By Ayo Onikoyi

Nigerian wellness advocate and content creator, Akanbi Aishat Oluwatoyin, popularly known as Aisha or Aishat Alagbo, has said she wants to contribute to changing the perception of African herbal knowledge and promote its proper study, documentation, regulation and development.

Alagbo, founder of Aish Naturaleaf Herbal, said her vision extends beyond selling herbal products, as she wants to build a trusted Nigerian wellness brand capable of competing internationally while retaining its African identity.

“My vision is much bigger than just selling herbal products. I want Aish Naturaleaf Herbal to grow into a trusted wellness brand that can compete internationally while still being proudly Nigerian,” she said.

She said one of her broader ambitions was to change the perception of African herbal knowledge, which she believes should not be dismissed as outdated or something that should be hidden.

“I don’t want it to be seen as something backward or something that should be hidden. I believe our traditional knowledge deserves to be properly studied, documented, regulated and developed,” she said.

Alagbo also identified dealing with criticism as one of the major challenges she has faced while building her wellness brand, alongside the demands of establishing trust, managing a growing business and constantly improving her operations.

She, however, said positive feedback from people who connect with her content and products remains one of the most rewarding aspects of her journey.

“One of my most memorable experiences is seeing people genuinely connect with what I’m building. Whenever someone comes back to tell me that my content helped them understand something, or that they appreciate my products and the way I do business, it means a lot to me,” she said.

On criticism and scepticism surrounding herbal products and wellness practices, Alagbo said she considers healthy scepticism important, particularly when people are dealing with products they intend to put into their bodies.

“I actually think healthy scepticism is important. People should ask questions about products they are putting into their bodies,” she said.

Rather than trying to convince everyone, she said she prefers to focus on transparency, educating her audience and conducting her activities responsibly, adding that she is willing to listen to genuine criticism and use it as an opportunity to learn.

“I’ve learned that when you’re building something publicly, you can’t please everybody, and that’s okay,” she said.

Looking ahead, Alagbo said she plans to leverage technology and content to make wellness education more accessible by creating platforms where people can learn, access wellness resources and interact with her brand more easily.

She said she ultimately wants Aish Naturaleaf Herbal to be associated with “trust, education, innovation and responsible wellness”, while contributing to a broader appreciation and development of African traditional knowledge.

Through Aish Naturaleaf Herbal, Alagbo combines herbal advocacy, entrepreneurship and social media storytelling, with a focus on herbal and plant-based wellness, including reproductive and hormonal wellbeing. Her growing digital presence also reflects the increasing role of social media in enabling Nigerian wellness entrepreneurs to educate audiences, build communities and develop businesses.