Lai Mohammed, Industry Leaders Back Standardisation at Nigeria Food Summit
Iyke Bede
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and other industry leaders have called for the standardisation of Nigerian gastronomy, saying the move would strengthen the country’s food systems, promote culinary tourism and position Nigerian cuisine for greater global competitiveness.
The call was made at the recently held Nigeria Food Summit 2026, which was staged at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the theme, ‘Gastronomy in Nigeria: Journey to Standardization.’
The two-day summit brought together policymakers, government officials, chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, regulators, development partners, students and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s food value chain.
Mohammed, who is Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of UN Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Governing Council of the Eko Tourism Foundation, delivered a keynote address titled, ‘Building Nigeria’s Food System: Standardizing Gastronomy for Power and Prosperity’.
He said Nigerian cuisine should be regarded not only as cultural heritage but also as an economic asset capable of driving tourism, exports, investment and national development.
“Standardizing Nigerian gastronomy is not a cosmetic exercise – it is nation-building work,” he said, urging stakeholders to develop systems that would protect quality, authenticity and Nigeria’s culinary heritage.
“Countries that succeed globally document, protect, regulate and intentionally promote their cuisine. Nigeria has every reason to stand alongside them,” he said.
“By building systems that protect quality, authenticity and our culinary heritage, we can transform Nigerian food into a powerful instrument of economic growth, cultural diplomacy and global competitiveness,” he added.
The Convener of the Nigeria Food Summit and chef, Captain Gbolabo Gibbs Adebakin, also called for the discussions at the summit to translate into practical action.
Adebakin, in his welcome address, said standardisation should move beyond an aspiration to become an industry-wide practice, requiring collaboration among government, businesses, educational institutions, hospitality operators and other stakeholders.
“The conversations we have had over these two days must now become commitments. Standardization cannot remain an aspiration – it must become our collective practice,” he said.
“Building a globally respected Nigerian gastronomy industry requires collaboration across government, business, education, hospitality and every stakeholder in the food value chain. This summit is only the beginning.”
The summit attracted nearly 1,000 participants and recorded close to 800 ticket sales. More than 300 speakers, moderators and panelists participated in the programme, alongside about 200 VIP guests, 30 sponsors and strategic partners, and nearly 20 exhibitors.
Among those who participated were the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Emmanuel Fatai Audu; Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya; Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of PricePally, Jummai Abalaka; NFS26 Culinary Director, Chef TYB; Hilda Baci; Chef Eros; Oyinbo Olonje; Chude Jideonwo; Alhaja Abraham Oyinkansola of Honeycraft Foodies; Lucky Idike; and Group Head, Agric and Solid Minerals Finance, Sterling Bank, Dr. Shola Obikanye.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) was also represented at the summit, with Ms Nene Obianwu participating in a policy panel alongside government and industry stakeholders.
Industry associations, including CAPA, RCBC, FTAN, APCN, APFSPN and REFSPAN, as well as the Slow Food Cooks’ Alliance Nigeria and other culinary and hospitality groups, also participated in the discussions.
The summit also provided opportunities for networking, business matchmaking and cross-sector engagement, while an exhibition showcased food brands, agricultural enterprises, technology-driven solutions and hospitality businesses to consumers, investors, policymakers and potential partners.
The event was backed by a number of organisations across the banking, agriculture, food, hospitality and communications sectors.
The organisers said the Nigeria Food Summit would continue to pursue dialogue, partnerships, research and policy engagement aimed at accelerating the standardisation and global recognition of Nigerian gastronomy.