Chef Gibbs Unveils Nigeria’s Culinary Tourism Vision

Nigeria is making a bold move to become a top gastronomy tourism hub in Africa. At the Second Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa in Arusha, Tanzania, renowned culinary expert Chef Gbolabo Adebakin (Chef Gibbs) presented a compelling strategy to elevate Nigeria’s food culture on the global stage.

Chef Gibbs emphasized the need to shift from seasonal, event-based tourism to a year-round, experience-driven model that showcases Nigeria’s diverse culinary heritage. His vision includes promoting the country’s vibrant food scene internationally, establishing the Nigeria Food Summit as a key industry event, and fostering cross-border culinary partnerships.

A central pillar of Chef Gibbs’ plan is the “Experience Nigeria 365” campaign, designed to promote immersive food experiences across the country’s various regions. He also proposed an annual Strategy Summit for policy alignment, a centralized digital platform for food tourism information, and investment incentives to boost the hospitality sector.

Chef Gibbs stressed the urgency of transforming Nigeria’s culinary potential into tangible results, stating, “These ideas are rooted in the urgent need for Nigeria to move from potential to performance, from flavour to footprint, on the global culinary map.”

The Nigeria Food Summit, founded by Chef Gibbs, garnered significant interest at the forum. The Summit aims to champion Nigeria’s culinary heritage and value chain, serving as a model for other African nations seeking to develop their hospitality sectors. Several countries, including Rwanda, Namibia, and South Africa, expressed interest in collaborations with Nigeria, ranging from chef exchanges to joint tourism ventures.

Chef Gibbs also acknowledged successful initiatives in other African countries, praising South Africa’s wine tourism integration and Tanzania’s meticulous food presentation as valuable examples for Nigeria to emulate. He highlighted the importance of Pan-African culinary integration, advocating for harmonized trade policies, cross-border tourism packages, and the recognition of indigenous ingredients in national development plans.

Despite its rich culinary traditions, Nigeria is currently absent from Africa’s top gastronomy tourism rankings. Chef Gibbs believes this can be reversed through strategic policy, investment, and marketing efforts. His roadmap includes initiatives like the “Gastronomy Passport” campaign to promote local culinary tourism and advocacy for national hospitality standards.

Chef Gibbs emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts, stating, “The Nigeria Food Summit will continue to push boundaries and promote cross-continental collaboration. We will achieve more when we consolidate our efforts as a collective.”

Nigeria’s tourism sector is poised for growth, with international arrivals increasing and revenue projections reaching billions of dollars in the coming years. The government’s focus on public-private partnerships and infrastructure development further strengthens the sector’s potential. Travel agents can capitalize on this momentum by incorporating Nigeria’s emerging culinary scene into their itineraries, offering clients unique and immersive food experiences.

Successful culinary tourism models in South Africa and Morocco offer valuable insights for Nigeria. South Africa’s thriving wine tourism sector and its focus on township food tours demonstrate the power of integrating local culture and heritage into culinary experiences. Morocco’s diverse food tours, cooking classes, and emphasis on community-based initiatives provide further inspiration for developing authentic and sustainable culinary tourism offerings.

By learning from these best practices and implementing Chef Gibbs’ strategic vision, Nigeria can unlock its vast culinary potential and establish itself as a premier gastronomy tourism destination in Africa. This presents exciting opportunities for African travel agents to curate unique and unforgettable culinary journeys for their clients, contributing to the growth of both Nigeria’s tourism sector and the wider African travel industry.