PRESS RELEASE
Eko Flavours Champions Shine at SMEDAN x UNDP “Food & Fashion Only” Showcase in Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria.
The Eko Flavours culinary champions delivered a standout performance at the Food & Fashion Only Showcase, a curated side event of the GROW Nigerian National MSME Conference, hosted by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The event was held on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at the UNDP Innovation Center in Ikoyi.
Designed to spotlight Nigeria’s creative economy across two powerful industries, food and fashion, the showcase brought together top fashion designers, emerging culinary talents, development partners, and MSME stakeholders for an evening of creativity, cultural expression, and enterprise.
Eko Flavours Champions Lead the Culinary Showcase
Representing Lagos’ most vibrant culinary platform, the Eko Flavours Season 2 Top 3 Chef Agabus (Champion), Chef Martha (First Runner-Up), and Chef Alexander Peace “Chef Luscious” (Second Runner-Up), headlined the food segment with three carefully curated tasting experiences.
The chefs each presented a dish inspired by sustainable culinary practices, aligning with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, a key thematic focus of the showcase.
Their presentations demonstrated ingredient optimisation, zero-waste cooking, responsible portioning, and modern Nigerian plating techniques reinforcing Eko Flavours’ commitment to building environmentally conscious food entrepreneurs.
Guests enjoyed a seamless flow of fashion blocks followed by food showcases, allowing each chef to engage the audience with a compelling story behind their dish, their creative process, and their mission within the Nigerian culinary ecosystem.
A Platform for MSME Excellence
This edition of the Food & Fashion Only event featured nine fashion designers, whose runway collections celebrated African creativity, craftsmanship, and identity. The fusion of fashion and food delivered a powerful narrative around the strength of Nigeria’s MSME sector and the potential for cross-industry collaboration.
High-level representatives from SMEDAN and UNDP, including the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr. Charles Odii, Federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Head of the UNDP Innovation Center, Dr. William Tsuma, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Toursim, Arts and Culture Mr Idris Aregbe, the immediate past Director General of SMEDAN and other dignitaries delivered remarks centered on innovation, enterprise support, and the importance of sustainable systems within Nigeria’s growing creative economy.
Eko Flavours: A Vehicle for Sustainable Culinary Development
The participation of the Eko Flavours finalists reinforces the platform’s expanding role as a vehicle for culinary talent development, MSME empowerment, and sustainability advocacy.
Through its partnership ecosystem and year-round activities, Eko Flavours continues to equip young chefs with the skills, visibility, and opportunities required to thrive from chef branding to business development and environmentally responsible kitchen systems.
The showcase provided a strategic opportunity for the chefs to:
- Demonstrate zero-waste cooking principles
- Engage development partners and investors
- Build brand visibility
- Connect with creative industry collaborators
- Explore pathways for scaling their culinary businesses
A Strong Showing for the Culinary Industry
The chefs’ performances received enthusiastic reactions from guests, industry leaders, and media representatives. Their dishes, storytelling, and presentation reinforced why Eko Flavours has become one of Africa’s most influential platforms shaping the next generation of culinary entrepreneurs.
About Eko Flavours
Eko Flavours is Lagos’ leading culinary discovery and development platform, powered by Culinara Group. Through competitions, showcases, training, media content, and strategic partnerships, the platform identifies, equips, and deploys emerging chefs while promoting Lagos cuisine, food culture, and sustainability principles.
For Media Enquiries
Email: info@culinaragroup.com
Instagram: @theekoflavours
Facebook: Eko Flavours
Website: www.ekoflavours.com
