Events

GTCO announces 8th edition of food, drink festival: “A Shared Experience”

Published

1 year ago

April 30, 2025

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) presents the 8th GTCO Food and Drink Festival from May 2nd to 4th, 2025, in Lagos, celebrating food, culture, and community with free stalls and masterclasses

Get ready for a culinary extravaganza! Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has announced the highly anticipated 8th edition of the GTCO Food and Drink Festival, set to take place from Friday, May 2nd to Sunday, May 4th, 2025, at GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Also read: MTN Nigeria celebrates culture, fashion at the resplendent 38th Lisabi Festival

This year’s festival, themed “A Shared Experience,” beautifully illustrates how every meal weaves a narrative – stories of culture, community, and tradition that bind people across generations and geographical boundaries.

The 2025 edition will feature an impressive 204 free retail stalls, showcasing the vibrant diversity and innovation of Nigeria’s food culture. Attendees can explore everything from traditional Nigerian dishes and regional specialties to exciting contemporary fusion cuisines, savory delights, refreshing beverages, and delectable gourmet desserts.

Adding to the rich experience, the festival will host a series of masterclasses led by internationally acclaimed chefs and respected culinary experts.

These sessions will offer attendees invaluable practical insights, recipes, and techniques spanning a wide array of cuisines and culinary disciplines.

The GTCO Food and Drink Festival is a celebration of our rich cultural diversity and entrepreneurial spirit. Every meal shared is a reminder of our traditions and the universal language of food that connects us all,” said Mr. Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc.

Beyond the extensive food exhibition and insightful masterclasses, visitors can immerse themselves in a lively street food arena, offering a tantalizing selection of popular local delicacies. A dedicated children’s play area will also ensure a fun, safe, and memorable outing for the entire family.

Speaking on the significance of the festival, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc, stated, “The GTCO Food and Drink Festival is a celebration of our rich cultural diversity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Every meal shared is a reminder of our traditions and the universal language of food that connects us all. Beyond the festivities, the festival reflects our commitment to supporting local enterprise—creating a free business platform where food retailers can connect with consumers, share their unique offerings, and take meaningful steps toward growth and long-term sustainability.”

At its core, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival embodies GTCO’s vision of Promoting Enterprise in support of small businesses, particularly indigenous food entrepreneurs.

This initiative is an integral part of the Group’s broader commitment to creating Great Experiences for its customers by providing meaningful opportunities for connection, growth, and shared success.

Admission to the GTCO Food and Drink Festival is absolutely free, and everyone is warmly invited to partake in this extraordinary celebration of food, culture, and enterprise.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

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Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

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Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”