In Lagos, food isn’t just sustenance, it’s a story. A story of heritage, hustle, and heart.
When Eko Flavours Season 2 was conceived, the vision was clear: to celebrate Lagos through its
rich culinary culture and give chefs a platform to tell their own Lagos food story.
Powered by Culinara Group in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, and executed by Tantacom Group, this year’s edition went beyond being a cooking competition; it became a movement of creativity, collaboration, and cultural pride.
The Pre-Event Stage: From Vision to Execution.
Every unforgettable event begins long before the lights, cameras, and applause. For Tantacom
Group, the Eko Flavours 2.0 journey started nearly two months before the main event, with one
key mission: to transform a vision into an experience.
Working closely with Culinara Group, Tantacom served as the executional backbone of Nigeria’s biggest cooking competition, managing the PR strategy, media partnerships, creative direction, influencer marketing,
event logistics, and storytelling that connected audiences to the essence of “My Lagos Food
Story.”
The planning phase brought together a network of collaborators and stakeholders who shared One goal to make Eko Flavours 2025 the biggest culinary celebration in Lagos.
Among these were the Golden Penny, Malta Guinness, Zenith Bank, Providus Bank, Fiesta Foods, Nestlé Pure Life, Imperial Crown Juice, AddMe, Olam Agri, Eko Rice, George Residence, Nest Restaurant, Fresh Food Hub, Woodscope, Swancape Farms, and the Ministry of Special Duties, all aligning to spotlight Lagos’ dynamic food ecosystem.
Media & Partnerships.
To amplify visibility and digital presence, Tantacom coordinated a powerful network of media
outlets, including Mainland FM, TVC, Arise TV, Channels TV, Radio Lagos, Traffic Radio, Vanguard
Newspaper, The Guardian Newspaper, and The Nation Newspaper.
Digital media partners such as BellaNaija, Lagos Junction, Lagos Gist TV, Popcentral, and others
also joined in to share event updates, contestant stories, and campaign highlights for Nigeria’s biggest cooking competition
The Build-Up: Announcement & Activation
The first public announcement came with a press release and a digital launch campaign that
rolled out across social media.
Through influencer-led activations, short storytelling videos, and engaging hashtags, the MyLagosFoodStory narrative began to take shape, inviting young chefs and culinary enthusiasts to register and participate.
Tantacom’s creative team designed communication that resonated with Lagos’ youthful,
energetic crowd while maintaining the brand’s professional and premium tone. The storytelling
balanced aspirational energy with community pride, positioning Eko Flavours as a cultural food
movement, not just a competition.
From Registration to Top 50
The registration opened online and attracted hundreds of aspiring chefs eager to share their
culinary talent.
To narrow down contestants, each applicant was given a task: to create a dish that represented
their Lagos food story. These dishes were shared on social media, introducing a digital twist that
merged competition with community engagement.
From these entries, the Top 50 contestants were selected, each bringing their unique spin on
Lagos-inspired cuisine. Tantacom worked hand-in-hand with Culinara to ensure every
contestant’s story was communicated in a way that elevated the brand narrative.
The announcement of the Top 50 came with a vibrant shopping experience and panel session
hosted at the Fresh Food Hub, where contestants met partners, engaged with judges, and
connected with Lagos’ thriving food industry.
Top 20 & The Voting Process.
Following the Top 50 reveal, contestants moved to the Top 20 phase, which included rigorous
online voting and daily canvassing. Each chef showcased creativity, storytelling, and passion through their submissions, while Tantacom managed the digital communication strategy that kept the competition alive on social media platforms, driving audience engagement and excitement.
The Event Stage: When Lagos Came Alive
On October 17th and 18th, 2025, the vision of Nigeria’s biggest cooking competition came to life at the Fresh Food Hub, Idi-Oro, Mushin.
The space transformed into a vibrant culinary arena buzzing with aromas, laughter, and
anticipation.
Day 1: The Semi-Finale
The semi-finale brought together the Top 20 contestants, each stepping into the kitchen ready
to prove why they belonged in Lagos’ biggest cooking competition.
The energy was electric, the air filled with sizzling sounds, spices, and stories. Tantacom’s event
management and creative direction ensured every visual element, from the branding setup to
the stage flow, reflected the “My Lagos Food Story” theme. Contestants were tasked with cooking dishes that embodied Lagos, bold flavours, creativity, and authenticity.
By the end of the day, 10 contestants advanced to the Grand Finale, marking the start of the
competition’s most thrilling chapter.
Day 2: The Grand Finale
Day 2 witnessed a perfect blend of culture, competition, and celebration. The Top 10 chefs
battled it out for the top spot, impressing judges and guests alike with their artistry,
presentation, and originality. From this final round, five chefs emerged as the finalists.
When the final plates were served and judged, Chef Agabus Agboye rose as the Eko Flavours
2025 Champion, winning the ₦5,000,000 grand prize.
His Lagos-inspired dish captured the essence of the city, rich, bold, and full of character.
He was followed by Chef Rotimi Martha Oluwadamilola, who earned ₦3,000,000 as First
Runner-Up, and Chef Alexander Peace, who clinched the Second Runner-Up position with
₦1,000,000. The finale wasn’t just a cooking contest; it was a culinary festival. Guests enjoyed live tastings, games, brand activations, music, and engaging interactions with partners.
Tantacom’s team worked tirelessly behind the scenes, from coordinating media interviews to
ensuring every brand touchpoint was captured and communicated across digital channels.
Post-Event Stage: Beyond the Plates
When the lights dimmed and the crowd dispersed, Eko Flavours 2025 lived on through stories,
posts, press mentions, and partnerships. Tantacom ensured the project’s visibility extended far beyond the two-day event through a carefully executed PR, influencer, and media strategy.
Post-event communications included interviews, recap videos, press releases, and digital
amplification that kept the story alive, turning moments into memories and engagement into
long-term brand equity. Through collaboration with media outlets and digital creators, Tantacom transformed the competition’s success into a narrative of empowerment, creativity, and cultural pride.
Tantacom’s Role Behind the Scenes
As the executing agency, Tantacom handled:
Public Relations & Media Coordination: crafting press releases, managing media partnerships,
and securing coverage across major platforms.
Creative Direction & Event Management: shaping the event’s identity, look, and experience
from stage design to visual storytelling.
Influencer Marketing: coordinating partnerships with food and lifestyle creators to amplify
engagement.
Brand Communications & Logistics: ensuring every detail is aligned with the core message of
“My Lagos Food Story.”
Key Takeaway.
For Tantacom, Eko Flavours Season 2 reaffirmed the power of storytelling through strategy and
collaboration. It wasn’t just an event; it was proof that when creativity meets coordination, impact becomes inevitable. From the first press release to the final applause, every detail reflected the agency’s ethos, turning ideas into experiences and visions into reality.
Conclusion.
Eko Flavours Season 2, Nigeria’s biggest cooking competition, was more than a culinary competition; it was a celebration of Lagos, its
people, its flavours, and its stories. Behind every sizzling pan and plated masterpiece was a team of visionaries, partners, and executors and at the heart of it all, Tantacom Group, bringing creativity, coordination, and communication together to make Lagos taste its best story yet.
