From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
There was excitement last Sunday as the unmistakable aroma of freshly baked pastries mixed with cheers and camera flashes to welcome the arrival of Tastia Restaurants and Bakery in Enugu.
What began as a modest culinary venture in Ebonyi State has rapidly evolved into one of Nigeria’s most ambitious and fast-growing food and hospitality brands.
Inside the newly opened outlet, the buzz was unmistakable. Customers explored the stylish, modern space, sampled signature dishes, and interacted with courteous, well-trained staff. The design and service reflect the brand’s core values, cleanliness, quality, consistency, and a warm, welcoming experience.
For Chief Kester Agwu Nwogo, the visionary founder and CEO of Tastia, the pening of the New Haven outlet is more than just a business expansion, it is a strategic move aimed at cementing the brand’s place in the Southeast and, ultimately, across Nigeria.
“We’re not just opening restaurants, we’re building something bigger. Our goal is clear. We want Tastia to dominate the food industry across the Southeast. And this is just the beginning,” Nwogo said during the ceremony.
Tastia has become a household name in Nigeria’s fast-casual dining scene, known not only for its quality meals and baked goods but also for job creation and community impact. The Enugu outlet adds to the brand’s growing presence, which includes thriving locations in Ebonyi and Abuja.
Sunday’s grand opening drew an impressive crowd of dignitaries, including federal lawmakers, state officials, and business leaders, all echoing support for the brand’s mission and its deepening roots in the Southeast.
Hon. Nkemkanma Kama, who represents Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, performed the ribbon-cutting. He described the launch as both symbolic and significant.
Kama praised Nwogo for transforming a personal passion into a thriving enterprise that now stands as one of the leading private employers in the region.
He said: “This is a great day for us as a people. Not only as people of Ohaozara and Ivo but Ebonyi State and Nigeria at large. Today, we are bringing back home to the heartbeat of Igboland what others have been enjoying from us.
“Today, we have come to let our people know that bringing back what our people have out there is very important. Today, we have come to open an edifice, a restaurant serving the good people of Enugu State.
“Testia is a brand that is going places. It’s an employer of labour. In fact, one of the highest employers of labour in the Southeast as of today. We believe that opening this place will be a stepping stone to other places because of where we are coming from.
“My dear brother, Chef Kester Agwu, what you do is beyond being a chef. It is a passion for you. That is why you keep expanding because you are not doing it only for the financial benefit.”
In a goodwill message, Oguzor Offia-Nwali, Ebonyi State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, described Tastia’s journey as one driven by grace and grit. He expressed confidence that Tastia’s presence in Enugu would catalyze further growth.
“I have to say that this is God’s own business. If I look back at the point Testia started, I understand that this is a project. This project is just starting. In a very short time, there has been a massive expansion as a result of God’s grace on our brother.
“There is no way you won’t have difficulties but your God is beyond difficulties. From Tastia in New Haven, we will have more in other parts of Enugu and across the South East.
“You have done very well in Ebonyi and here you are in Enugu. Governor Nwifuru is doing his best to see that business like this excel and do well in Ebonyi,” he said.