Public nominations have commenced for the inaugural Foodies Choice Awards, a new initiative aimed at celebrating excellence in Africa's food and agriculture sector. This event spans five countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Launched by Maxima Media Group, the awards seek to honor significant contributions across 50 categories, including agriculture, culinary arts, and food media.
The awards are designed to be consumer-driven, with the public nominating and voting for individuals and organizations they believe have made impactful contributions to the food and agriculture value chain. This initiative comes at a pivotal time for Nigeria, where agriculture is a major economic sector, contributing over 20% to the nation's GDP and employing millions.
Recent governmental efforts to bolster food security and attract private investment have been highlighted by the organizers. Notably, the Nigerian Federal Government recently launched a $500 million agricultural investment fund to enhance food production and agribusiness opportunities. Maxima Media Group emphasized that Nigeria's food economy is diversifying, with growth in indigenous food brands and export-oriented agribusinesses, aligning with Africa's vision of a $1 trillion food economy by 2030.
Oluwafemi Ogundoro, Group CEO and Founder of Maxima Media Group, stated that the awards empower consumers to recognize those making meaningful contributions to the industry. He remarked, "Foodies Choice Awards gives consumers the power to recognize those creating real impact while encouraging higher standards, greater innovation and stronger competitiveness across the industry."
To ensure the awards' credibility and transparency, KPMG has been appointed as the official assurance partner, overseeing the nomination, validation, and public voting processes. Michellee Fox, COO of Maxima Media Group, expressed confidence in this partnership, emphasizing that trust is foundational to the awards' integrity.
The Foodies Choice Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Lagos in November. It is expected to draw a diverse audience, including government officials, policymakers, investors, and industry professionals from across Africa. The awards aim to foster recognition, dialogue, and investment in Africa's food economy, connecting producers, innovators, investors, and consumers throughout the continent.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
