Nigeria seeks global recognition for indigenous cuisines

Nigeria is seeking wider international exposure for its indigenous dishes and culinary traditions as more than 40 chefs, judges and officials prepare to represent the country at the West Africa Food Festival 2026 in Banjul, The Gambia.

 The Nigerian delegation, led by the National President of the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria, Dr Mekwuye Eric, is expected to participate in the festival from 15 to 21 October, showcasing traditional dishes, beverages, locally sourced ingredients and cooking techniques drawn from the country’s six geopolitical zones.

 The initiative comes as the association seeks to position Nigerian cuisine as an avenue for promoting tourism, preserving cultural heritage and creating economic opportunities within the hospitality industry.

 “Through the Indigenous Country Cuisine Platform, Nigerian chefs will showcase authentic indigenous dishes and beverages, traditional cooking knowledge, locally sourced ingredients and the stories behind the food,” the association said in its briefing in Lagos on Wednesday ahead of the festival.

 Nigeria’s presentation will extend beyond popular meals to include foods associated with local communities, traditional ceremonies and regional identities, reflecting the country’s diverse culinary heritage.

 The delegation will also participate in competitions covering indigenous country cuisine, Jollof Rice, desserts, cake decoration, vegan cooking, barbecue and culinary innovation. The contests are expected to provide opportunities for chefs to demonstrate their technical skills, creativity and knowledge of traditional and contemporary cooking methods.

 WAFFEST is a travelling regional festival that unites culinary experts and cultural practitioners to promote West African cuisine, hospitality and tourism. According to information provided by the association, previous editions took place in Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo, with Ghana hosting the 2025 event.

 The Gambia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is organising the 2026 festival in partnership with the Gambia Chefs Association. The event is expected to attract participants from across West Africa and other parts of the world.

 The participation offers an opportunity to introduce indigenous ingredients and recipes to international audiences while exchanging knowledge with culinary professionals from other countries. The association also hopes to strengthen professional standards and encourage the preservation of traditional cooking practices.

 The push to expand the reach of Nigerian cuisine forms part of the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria’s broader effort to link culinary development with tourism, cultural diplomacy and employment.

 Founded in 2011, the association says it represents chefs, cooks and other culinary professionals across more than 21 states. Its activities include professional training, workshops, competitions and initiatives aimed at documenting and promoting indigenous recipes.

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 The association’s past initiatives include the National Mentor-Mentee Challenge, designed to nurture emerging culinary talent. It also disclosed that it jointly developed WAFFEST with the Chef Association of Ghana in 2018 and hosted the festival in Lagos in 2023.

 The association’s participation in the Gambian festival follows the 11th edition of its International Culinary Summit, held in Abuja from 8 to 12 June 2026, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy.

 The broader economic opportunity lies in connecting indigenous food with hospitality services, destination marketing and international cultural exchanges. However, the extent to which such initiatives translate into higher visitor numbers, investment or employment will depend on the development of supporting businesses and sustained promotion beyond festival appearances.

 ValueJet has been named APCN’s official airline partner for the Gambian festival, providing travel support for members of the Nigerian delegation.

 The Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet, Omololu Majekodunmi, said the airline’s partnership with the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria would create opportunities for collaboration, including the potential to expand its onboard culinary offerings.

 “We are very, very proud of this partnership between ValueJet and APCN. This is the beginning of new milestones for us,” he told reporters.

 The executive, who is also a chef, said he hoped the collaboration would eventually lead to an expansion of the cuisine served on the airline’s flights, adding that the two organisations could explore further opportunities as the relationship developed.

 “I want to believe that our cuisine on aircraft will increase, and, as time goes on, very soon, maybe we’ll have the chef airline,” he said.

 He described the West Africa Food Festival as a celebration of food and culture rather than simply a competition and expressed confidence that the partnership would be sustained over the long term.

 Majekodunmi also cited ValueJet’s partnerships with other organisations, including the Nigeria Football Federation, as examples of its broader collaboration with professional bodies.

 “I wish you all the best, and we’ll definitely know that this partnership will go very, very far,” he stated.