Street Foodz Naija*, the popular television show celebrating Nigeria’s vibrant street food culture, is back for its fifth season, set to premiere on September 15, 2024. Themed “Love and Street Food,” this year’s competition promises exciting rewards, including an N10 million grand prize.
Beyond the grand prize, 14 contestants will receive scholarships from the Hospitality Business School (HBS), SME toolkits, and other valuable consolation prizes from the show’s sponsors. The competition is a collaboration with the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
Entry calls and auditions will run until September 23, 2024, with the competition kicking off in October. The show will air for seven weeks on major TV stations every Saturday and Sunday, with the grand finale set for November 16, 2024.
At a recent media briefing, Femi Ogundoro, Managing Director of Food Bay Television and the show’s organizer, confirmed that 19 contestants will be competing for the top spot. Senior Lagos State Government officials, corporate sponsors, and judges attended the event. Sponsors include FCMB, Golden Penny, Tiger Nuts, and Prism Healthcare.
Ogundoro highlighted the show’s role in spotlighting Nigeria’s untapped street food talents, offering them global exposure. He cited past participants like Korede Spaghetti and Kinglab, who turned their street food businesses into thriving ventures after participating in previous seasons.
Ogundoro stressed the importance of branding and positioning for street food vendors to scale their businesses internationally. He commended the Lagos State Government for its technical support and praised corporate sponsors for backing the initiative. “We are pleased the government is partnering with us to lend credibility and technical expertise to the project,” Ogundoro stated.
Representatives from sponsoring companies also shared their reasons for joining the initiative. Kayode, Brand Manager of Maltina, expressed excitement about energizing the show, noting that their Tiger brand symbolizes the courage expected from contestants. Modupe Boluwa of Calypso added that the brand is honored to be part of the show and aims to infuse African spirit into the contestants’ dishes.
Chef Tolani, founder of Diary of A Kitchen Lover and one of the judges, expressed her anticipation for creativity and originality from the participants. She believes the show gives food vendors the chance to elevate their culinary skills and become industry leaders.
Lateef Saka, Director at the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, praised the collaboration, stating that the government cannot develop youth programs alone. He emphasized the importance of the partnership in nurturing the talents of young people in Lagos.
Eric Mekwunye, CEO of Hospitality Business School, underscored the significance of kitchen safety, stressing that food is serious business. He noted that the involvement of the Lagos State Government will help regulate unethical practices in the industry.
Season 5 of Street Foodz Naija is set to inspire and empower a new generation of culinary talent across Africa, transforming local street food vendors into global stars.
