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From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
In the heart of Imo State, a culinary treasure steals the show; Ofe Owerri, the king of soups. The ancient delicacy has transcended its humble beginnings to captivate the entire South East region and beyond, with its rich flavour and cultural significance.
Recently, the International Hospitality Tourism and Eco-Sustainability Forum (IHTEF), Culinary, and Culture Africa took Ofe Owerri to new heights by hosting a vibrant festival in its honour. Tagged the “Ofe Owerri Drinks and Food Festival”, the event brought together tourists from across the Southeast, showcasing the soup’s versatility and the warmth of Imo State’s hospitality.
Held at the picturesque Heartland Resort, nestled beside the Nworie River, the festival was a sensory delight. Cooking demonstrations, storytelling, singing, and dancing created an atmosphere of joy, while over 500 food stands offered visitors a taste of local delicacies.
Convener, Chibuike Diala, Executive Director, IHTEF, explained the festival’s significance: “Ofe Owerri is more than a soup; it’s a priceless heritage, a symbol of unity that transcends social divides. We’re driving tourism, promoting local agriculture, and showcasing Imo State’s rich culture.”
“Ofe Owerri is the king of soups, and the jewel of the southeast. It’s almost a priceless heritage in Owerri, Imo State. You know, tourism is local; so you can’t talk about it without talking about Ofe Owerri. Beyond the soup itself, we’re driving tourism to the state, and to put the soup in a national tourism pedestal, and then build tourism around it, and let it become a heritage people look forward to. We’re placing it were people are going to recognise it at the global level.
“Secondly, it provides an opportunity to cast a new story about Imo State. For some time, the state has issues with insecurity, and Ofe Owerri is something that seems to join everybody together because it’s food. Both the poor and the wealthy eat it.
Thirdly, we’re looking at the youth force of our nation, the SMEs. There is no food without agriculture. It promotes traditional farming; we use our local spices for it, and we believe it will help and encourage local farming .
Despite the effort put in place to promote the idea, Diala said sponsors are greatly needed.
“Historically, we’ve been in tourism. Every idea, every project has it’s own funding. We brought the funding, but it’s open for partnership. The state government, through the office of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, has endorsed it . EFTAN has also endorsed it, as well as the Association of Professional Chefs of Nigeria.
“We have a few sponsors, but they’re product sponsors. We hope individuals from southeast will also support us. This place the government opened up in the past years was a waste land, but, today, it’s a wealthy land. If you invest more, you get more out of it.
“Assuming the government invests massively in this, they’re going to get more returns because people want to travel, go to safe places where they can have fun. The money you make from tourism stays locally”, Diala said.
