All is set for the seventh edition of the popular Ofada Rice Day Festival.
Slated for Lagos the event themed, ‘Ofada Rising: Celebrating Innovation, Identity and Nigeria’s Culinary Future,’ will feature cultural and artistic showcases, innovation hubs, farmer and producer conversations, food exhibitions and tastings, culinary competitions, panel discussions with industry experts and the global unveiling of Ofadabration Canada 2025.
Intimating the public about the occasion, slated for Sunday 7 at Muri Okunola park, Lagos, convener – Ofada Rice Day Festival and Creative Director – OfadaBoy, Tobi Fletcher said: “My connection to Ofada rice runs deeper than business. I come from a lineage of first-generation rice farmers, and my great-grandfather was the first Ofada rice farmer. It is a legacy built on sacrifice, innovation, and tradition. This work today is a continuation of that story, a responsibility I carry with pride.
“With close to 20 years in the hospitality and food service sector, I have seen the evolution of Nigerian cuisine, the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the incredible potential of our local foods. That experience guides the work we do with OfadaBoy and the Ofada Rice Day Festival.
“Ofada has risen from a small village staple to a national treasure and an emerging global culinary identity. Its rise represents the rise of Nigerian farmers, the rise of homegrown food businesses, the rise of cultural pride, the rise of innovation in our food system. Ofada is no longer just rice. It is a movement.”
Fletcher, who is also the President of the Association of Professional Food Service Providers (APFSPN) added that the event which is in partnership with Oyinda Fletcher (Co-Partner) will in the long run will immensely benefit the country. And it will be shaped by supporting local farmers and processors, building culinary tourism, promoting Nigerian food globally, standardizing food service practices, empowering chefs and food entrepreneurs and creating stronger platforms for innovation.
At the core of the Ofada Rice Day Festival is a commitment to empowering local food sellers, market women, small-scale vendors, cooks, and rising food entrepreneurs.
