The convener, Nigeria Food Summit 2025 Gbolabo Adebakin (Chef Gibbs), has said Nigeria’s culinary heritage is one of the richest in the world, yet it remains underrepresented globally.
He noted this recently at the Nigeria Food Summit 2025 which convened industry leaders, culinary innovators, and policymakers in Lagos state with theme “Making Nigeria a Global Food Destination.”
He emphasised the importance of Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage and the urgent need to position Nigerian cuisine on the global stage.
He said the summit is a call to action for food entrepreneurs, chefs, and policymakers to take ownership of industry’s growth.
“We must innovate, collaborate, and harness the full potential of our local flavours and agricultural resources to make Nigeria a true food destination,” he said.
He said the landmark gathering served as the country’s largest convergence of chefs, food scientists, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders in the food value chain committed to shaping the future of Nigeria’s food industry.
Side events at the summit welcomed distinguished personalities and top chefs, including Anjola Awosika, Tolani Tayo-Osikoya (Diary of a Kitchen Lover), Hilda Baci, Ayo Bankole, and the Kitchen amuse, who shared invaluable insights on food business, sustainability, and cultural representation. The event featured four insightful panel sessions that tackled pressing industry issues.
The session on “The Past, The Present, The Future of the Nigerian Food Industry” was moderated by Bukola Benson, with panellists Iquo Ukoh, Michael Williams, Paul Kavanagh, and Dr. Eric. Another critical discussion, “Launching, Sustaining, and Scaling a Food Business in Nigeria,” was led by Bukkie Akinmade and attended by Anjola Awosika, Eunice Adeyemi, Abiola Adelana, and Gbenga Sosan.
Technology’s role in food innovation took centre stage in the panel “A Fully Automated Food Industry: The Future is Tech,” moderated by Uzo Orimalade with industry experts Vera Ebhohon, Ted Oladele, Toheeb Bakare, Luther Lawoyin, Tanaz Bahnam, Chikodi Ukaiwe, and Aghuienoh Tarek.
Beyond business strategy, the conversation shifted to the realities of entrepreneurship in “Running a Business in Nigeria: Beyond the Clout,” featuring Victory Jumbo, Hilda Baci, Modupe Emmanuel, Olapeju Umar, and Malaika, with moderation by Uju Ameshi. The final panel, “Chef’s Table,” featured the Vice President of APCN, Chef Nick, the President of CAPA, Chef Amaka, and Chef Ik a renowned Chef From Ghana.
In addition to panel discussions, masterclasses by Anjola Awosika, Chef Miyonsea, Chef Tucker, Chef TYB, Omoye Cooks and others provided deep dives into essential industry topics, covering the history of Nigerian food, plating and molecular gastronomy, food styling and content creation, canapé table spreads and photography, and Nigerian culinary arts with a farm-to-table approach. A special live podcast session of “One Bite at a Time,” hosted by Chef Vee and Chef Wu, added an engaging and interactive element to the summit.
The Nigeria Food Summit 2025 achieved remarkable success, solidifying its role as a leading platform for driving innovation, collaboration, and policy direction in Nigeria’s food ecosystem. This year’s edition brought together key stakeholders, industry leaders, and food enthusiasts to explore sustainable solutions and opportunities within the sector.