Sabi Chef unveils 2nd edition of Street Food Cooking competition
By Henry Uche
Sabi Chef, a street food cooking competition and festival, is set for its 2024 edition of street food cooking competition to celebrate vendors.
Put together by Newspread.ng Media, the event seeks to continue its mission to uplift and celebrate Nigeria’s vibrant street food culture to discover and reward street chefs across the country through a colorful festival.
The initiative spearheaded by Newspread.ng’s CEO, Mr. Shola Ewuola, aims to spotlight the creativity and resilience of street food vendors across the country, offering them a platform to showcase their culinary skills.
“The idea is to enhance and help the vendors on the street. The people who make street food are not well celebrated in Nigeria, while those abroad celebrate their own in a big way. In Nigeria, we grew up eating street food, yet we often consider those who make or eat it as less privileged and we can’t support that. We need to showcase Nigerian street food, celebrate the people who make it and also educate them on proper food preparation.
This competition is about encouraging better lives for the sellers, both financially and morally,” Ewuola explained.
Open to all street food vendors, this edition seeks to build on the success of the first by offering even more opportunities for participants to display their skills and share their unique stories.
Ewuola emphasised the broader goal: “Let us celebrate the creativity and resilience of our food vendors and encourage everyone to explore the rich flavours that our streets have to offer. We want to promote street food as a symbol of our culture, an economic driver and a bridge that connects us all.”
He disclosed that Sabi Chef, in collaboration with its project partner, Maxx Connection Ltd, are working to make the edition much bigger where millions of naira and other prizes would be won by participants in November.
Also speaking, Sabi Chef brand ambassador, Chef Joy Ogbidi, emphasised the need for Nigerians to ensure that street food vendors operate in safe and hygienic environments.
“At Sabi Chef, we illuminate the efforts of street food sellers. We have come together to celebrate these vendors because foreign meals have overshadowed Nigerian foods and it’s essential to bring our food culture back to the forefront. This competition will highlight our local foods and provide a platform for talented chefs and cooks to showcase their culinary skills,” she noted.
Company Secretary, Femi Abimbola, echoed these sentiments, saying, “our street food and the talented vendors who bring these culinary delights to life are integral to our culture. We stand together to promote street food as more than just a quick bite; it is an experience that embodies the spirit of Nigeria.
“Street food is a celebration of our flavours, a gathering point for families and friends and an essential part of our daily lives that transcends social and economic barriers. It is a symbol of unity, bringing together people from all walks of life to enjoy the simple pleasure of good food.”
Abimbola also highlighted the economic importance of street food vendors, noting that, “these entrepreneurs are the backbone of our local communities. They create jobs, support local farmers and suppliers and contribute significantly to the livelihoods of countless families. By choosing to eat street food, we are not just satisfying our taste buds; we are supporting small businesses and empowering our fellow Nigerians.”
They said the groups are committed to collaborate with local authorities to ensure that street food vendors receive the necessary support, training and resources to thrive while adhering to health and safety standards, affirming that this celebration remains a proud and integral part of the nation’s culinary heritage for generations to come.
“As this competition returns, the call to action is stronger than ever: it’s time to celebrate, support and uplift the people who bring our favourite street food to life,” the organisers stated.
