Ever wondered why the food industry is the most significant sector in any society, everywhere in the world? This is because nothing else matters where hunger, famine and drought is the order of the day – after all, where there is food there is life and where there is drink (water/beverages) there is abundant health which is the basis of continuous living. Everything else that makes up human existence can only manifest when hunger is non-existence, otherwise, life itself eventually comes to a halt when there is no food and drink – everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, status or religion needs food and water to stay alive. Good health is upon you naturally when you eat right and well, wealth, riches, success in chosen career paths comes to you when you are well fed thus enabling you to think, strategise and work hard to reach and break the glass ceilings of greatness.
  
Food is the essence of life itself and without doubt, this was the motive behind the Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) food & drinks initiative in 2016 when it’s maiden edition tagged GTCO Food &Drinks Festival held in Lagos kicked off as Africa’s largest food fair, bringing together thousands of people from all walks of life, home and abroad to experience the diversity of African culinary put together by hundreds of food vendor SMEs, local and international chefs from across the world.
  
The festival is a yearly food exhibition and sales event that projects the diverse angles of the food industry by connecting various businesses involved in the production and sales of food related items to everyone beyond just food lovers or enthusiasts as everyone eats at some point to stay alive.
  
This is why the festival, from inception in 2016, till date, has become one of the major driving forces of the Nigeria food industry and economy at large as effects trickle down to other sectors of the Nigerian economy. Now the question is how?
  
GTCO Food & Drinks Promotes Enterprise – the festival provides free exhibition space for food vendors including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to sell their food and beverages as well as showcase their brand to thousands of people that eventually patronise and sought after them long after the event is done and dusted for each year, hereby retaining and boosting their businesses and means of income. This explains why year in and out the numbers of vendors increases tremendously from previous editions.
  
Promotes African Culinary heritage – While the food festival presents international chefs who showcase their culinary expertise from across the world at the master classes and exhibition section, its major highlights are African chefs and food vendors who showcase the rich African culinary heritage to the world.
  
Promotes Tourism in Nigeria – For over seven years and counting, GTCO Food and Drinks have become a critical event that attracts all and sundry from within and outside the country with effects trickling down to other sectors of the Nigerian economy beyond agriculture, food and beverages sector, to transportation, finance, travel & tourism, lifestyle, entertainment, etc.
  
Spotlighting Local and International Chef as a thriving dream career – Looking back in Nigeria, ten years, ago, taking up a career as a chef was not on the top list of thriving professional paths to tread especially amongst youths, however since 2016 when the festival was unveiled with top successful chefs from across the African continent and the world at large who treated the arts of culinary and the business side of it during the master classes each year, except in 2020 and 2021 when the event took a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned in 2022, a lot of young Nigerian chefs have emerged and the career has become one of dignity and fame that more Nigerians young and old are delving into.
  
For this year 2025 which is the 8th edition of the GTCO Food and Drinks Festival billed to hold from May 2-4 at the usual venue, GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island Lagos, the organisers of the fair GTCO is set to put more of their money where their mouth is, just for stakeholders from all and sundry including food lovers from within and outside Nigeria to have new dimensions of not only unforgettable culinary experiences but business growths.