Ogah Ukeh Gladys (Chef Ukeh)
Culinary Student · Kosofe
1–3 years cooking experiencePersonal information
- Full name
- Ogah Ukeh Gladys (Chef Ukeh)
- Location
- Kosofe
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 35
- Phone
- 07038649448
- prettifoxzybrown25@gmail.com
- Residential address
- 8 Adigun Avenue Magodo Isheri (Harmony Estate)
- Social handles
- Instagram:- chef_ukeh Ticktock:- Chef Ukeh. Facebook:- Gladys Ukeh Ogah
Applicant profile
- Applicant type
- Culinary Student
- Applicant type other
- Hospitality Business School Lagos (HBS)
- Current occupation
- Chef
- Cooking experience
- 1–3 years
Competition experience
- Prior competitions
- Yes
- Competition details
- I participated in Street Foodz Naija Season 6. I advanced to the semi-finals, where I presented my Village Rice at the Canadian Embassy. I proceeded to the finals with Afang Soup served with yellow garri and finished 6th overall. The experience challenged me to think creatively under pressure and strengthened my confidence as a chef.
Competition readiness
- Available throughout competition
- Yes
Entrepreneurship and impact
- Runs a food business
- Yes
- Business name
- Ochukochops
- Business type
- Restaurant
- Years in operation
- Four Years
- Business challenge
- 1)Access to capital or equipment funding.
2)Marketing, customer acquisition, and brand visibility.
3)Kitchen space, supply chain logistics, or scaling operations.
4)Business management training and mentorship.
Culinary journey
My culinary journey started from a very personal place. I grew up watching my mother sell food, and after her passing, I found myself carrying on the food business she started. What began as a means of survival gradually became my passion and my purpose.
In 2020, I started building my own food brand, OchukoChops, and over the years I have grown from preparing Nigerian street food to developing myself professionally as a chef. I have worked on food productions and commercials, catered for private events, participated in culinary competitions, and continued to improve my skills through professional culinary training at Hospitality Business School.
My journey has not always been easy, but every challenge has made me more determined to become the chef I envision myself being. Today, I see food not just as a business, but as my story, my heritage and my way of connecting with people.
Cooking inspiration
My biggest inspiration is my Nigerian heritage and the memories attached to food. I am inspired by the way food brings people together, especially the flavours, techniques and stories passed down through generations.
I am also inspired by my mother, whose food business introduced me to the kitchen and showed me that food could be both a source of livelihood and a way to touch people’s lives. I love taking familiar Nigerian flavours and presenting them in creative ways while still respecting where they come from.
Every ingredient has a story, and I want my cooking to tell those stories while creating memorable experiences for the people who eat my food.
Signature dish
My signature dish is my Village Rice — a celebration of Nigerian flavours inspired by the simplicity and richness of home cooking. It is a vibrant rice dish built around carefully balanced local ingredients, traditional flavours and smoky, earthy notes.
What makes it special to me is the story behind it. Village Rice was one of the dishes that took me to the semi-finals of Street Foodz Naija, where I had the opportunity to showcase my creativity at the Canadian Embassy. It represents my belief that Nigerian food can be authentic, exciting and presented at a professional level without losing its soul.
Why I want to participate
I want to participate because I see this as an opportunity to challenge myself, grow as a chef and showcase the richness of Nigerian cuisine on a bigger platform. My culinary journey has taught me resilience, creativity and the importance of staying true to my roots.
I want to learn from other talented chefs, push my creativity beyond what I already know and prove that Nigerian food can be presented with both authenticity and modern culinary excellence. Most importantly, I want to use this opportunity to take my culinary career to the next level and inspire other young people who are building something from humble beginnings.
What winning would mean
Winning would mean much more to me than a title. It would be a major milestone in my journey as a chef and a validation of years of hard work, sacrifice, learning and perseverance.
It would give me a stronger platform to tell my story, showcase Nigerian cuisine and grow my culinary career. It would also mean that the little girl who grew up watching her mother sell food and later carried on that legacy has turned that beginning into something meaningful.
Most importantly, winning would inspire me to dream even bigger and continue pursuing my goal of becoming an exceptional chef and a leading voice for Nigerian cuisine.
