Chef Agabus Agboye has emerged winner of the second edition of Eko Flavours, a Lagos State backed culinary competition designed to showcase creativity, innovation and originality in food presentation.
Agboye, who triumphed with his theme-inspired dish, “My Lagos Food Story,” beat 49 other contestants in a rigorous selection process that narrowed the field to 20, then 10, and finally five finalists before he was crowned champion.
Speaking after his victory, an emotional Agboye expressed gratitude to God, his family, and the Lagos State Government for the platform.
“I’m overwhelmed with joy. This is a dream come true after years of hard work and dedication.
” I want to thank the Lagos State Government and the organisers of Eko Flavours for believing in young chefs like me.
“This win means I must keep improving and give my best to represent Lagos proudly,” he said.
Oluwadamiloa Rotimi, who emerged as the first runner-up, also expressed excitement and appreciation for the experience, describing the competition as “a journey of discovery and growth.”
“This competition has opened my eyes to what is possible in Lagos’ food industry. We have incredible talent here, and I’m proud to be part of this culinary evolution,” she said.
One of the highlights of the competition was the competition between Ms Abisola Olusanya the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems with popular food critic Opeyemi Famakinwa, like a comic relieve, spectators were selected to pick the winning dish and Olusanya won.
Mrs Funke Adu, Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Culinara Group and one of the judges, commended all participants, describing them as “winners in their own right.”
“Every contestant today represents a story of resilience, creativity and hope. Beyond the trophies, everyone who stood in that kitchen today has gained something valuable confidence, exposure, and belief in their own abilities.
“Lagos is proud of you all. We at Culinara are committed to nurturing these emerging chefs so they can tell more ‘Lagos stories’ through their food,” she said.
The winner went home with N5 million while the first and second runner up got N3 million and N1 million respectively.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Idris Aregbe, said Eko Flavours had become a key part of the state’s creative economy and youth empowerment strategy.
He explained that the initiative was designed to identify and promote culinary talents who could represent the state’s diversity through food while creating opportunities for self-employment and innovation.
“Today we’ve seen creativity at its best. We are not just building chefs, we are building ambassadors of Lagos culture through food.
“Beyond the competition, our goal is to empower more people, build capacity and ensure synergy among these young chefs.
” We’re already planning to feature not only the top five but also other outstanding contestants at the upcoming Greater Lagos Fiesta in December.”
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems, Dr Olurotimi Fashola, lauded the improvement in organisation and quality witnessed in the second edition.
“This year’s edition is fully digitalised, from scoring to collation, which made the process transparent and faster.
“We have seen tremendous improvement in presentation, innovation and creativity. What we are witnessing is the birth of a generation of chefs who can redefine Nigerian cuisine. Our dream is to create unique recipes and dishes that originate from Lagos – something we can patent and proudly call our own.”
The Eko Flavours Season 2 competition, themed “The Lagos Food Story,” is part of the Lagos State Government’s efforts to promote culinary tourism, celebrate local ingredients, and empower youths in the hospitality and food value chain.
The event featured live tastings, digital scoring, and mentorship sessions, reinforcing Lagos’ position as the emerging hub of Nigeria’s creative food culture.
