On Thursday, June 18, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems made history by placing food and those who produce and celebrate it, at the very heart of its economic vision. At the Library on Victoria Island, the Ministry, in partnership with Culinara Group, Tantacom and MIPAD, hosted a landmark World Gastronomy Day celebration under the theme ‘A Seat at the Table’.

With the Honorable Commissioner for Agriculture and Food System, Hon Abisola Olusanya, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Audu, Special Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola PhD, Director General, National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC) Sir Obi Asika, Chief Communication Officer, GTCO plc, Oyindamola Adegite (Industry pioneer), Tannaz Bahnam, founder and CEO Awari App (Industry Expert), Chef Gibbs, CEO African Concierge Network and Convener Nigeria Food Summit (Industry Expert), Chef Fregz, Culinary Artist/Nigerian Food Enthusiast, Jide Sipe (Group Head, Brand transformation and CEO FMN), Busayo Ogunlowore (Category Development Manager, Nestle Nigeria Plc), Edgar Ayalogu (outreach lead, the HungreeApp), Omoboye Odu (Head, SMEs, Partnerships and Collaborations, Ecobank Nigeria), Segun Awosanya (@Segalink, President/Founder, Aliensmedia), Anil Hemnani (Managing Director, Primlaks), Queen Muriel (Private Practice), Lola Pedro (Co Founder Pedros), Ambassador Olubukola Ariyibi (Culture Ambassador, Afro Caribbean Chamber of Culture Art and Tourism ACCCAT), Carlo’s Rojas-Arbulu (Deputy High Commissioner, Canada to Nigeria) and a host of other dignitaries in attendance, as hosted by Kamil Olufowobi (Founder and Chairman, Most Influential 100 (MIPAD), and Jennifer Odufuwa (Co-CEO Culinara and Tantacom with Olufunke Adu), at the event set out to reframe gastronomy not merely as culinary art but as a powerful engine of national development.

From the moment guests arrived, the library’s elegant halls resonated with the exhibition of rich culture, with each component of the theme design telling a story of farmers, local markets, and centuries of food wisdom. Far from a showcase of fine dining alone, the gathering underscored how every element of Nigeria’s food ecosystem, from seed to plate, offers opportunities for investment, job creation, and sustainable growth.

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture (Mr Emmanuel Audu) observed, “Gastronomy sits at the crossroads of culture and commerce. When we invest in our farmers, our chefs, our food entrepreneurs, we invest in Nigeria’s future.”

The commissioner reinforced this message, calling for coordinated policies that link smallholder producers with processors, distributors, hospitality operators, and exporters. Participants heard how gastronomy can, and must, be integrated into national development plans:

• Agricultural producers gain stable markets and better incomes when chefs and restaurants source locally.

• Food processors and manufacturers create value-added products that command higher prices in domestic and international markets.

• Hospitality and tourism sectors attract visitors eager for authentic culinary experiences, driving revenue and infrastructure development.

• Youth and women entrepreneurs find pathways to build sustainable food businesses, catering services, packaged-food brands, and culinary schools, creating employment and uplifting communities.

A panel of chefs, agronomists, investors, and tourism experts explored practical steps forward: establishing a Lagos Gastronomy Council to coordinate stakeholders; creating grants and low-interest loans for food startups; embedding culinary and agribusiness training in educational curricula; and marketing Nigerian cuisine at global events.

A highlight of the evening was the official unveiling of Eko Flavours Season 3.0, a pioneering culinary franchise that blends competition with modules on entrepreneurship, sustainability, and business development. Season 3 contestants will not only craft delicious dishes but also pitch viable business plans, source responsibly, and tackle waste-reduction challenges, demonstrating that gastronomy can be both art and enterprise.

As the event drew to a close, one message rang clear: the full potential of Nigeria’s gastronomy economy will be realised only when government, industry, investors, educators, and cultural custodians pull together.

‘A Seat at the Table’ was more than a theme; it was a call to action: to give every stakeholder a voice, every farmer a market, every chef an opportunity, and every community a taste of prosperity. In the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems’ bold reframing, gastronomy emerges not just as the nation’s cultural signature, but as a strategic pillar for inclusive, diversified and sustainable development.