Owerri: After two years of planning, the Ofe Owerri Food and Drink Festival will debut as an annual cultural celebration in Owerri, Imo, from January 3 to January 4, 2026, having been officially endorsed. The Imo State Commissioner for Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, Mr. Jerry Egemba, expressed the government’s strong support for the festival in an official endorsement letter.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the festival is organized by International Hospitality, Tourism and Eco-Sustainability Forum (IHTEF), Nigeria, in collaboration with Culinary and Culture Africa Ltd. Mr. Chibuikem Diala, Founder and Executive Director of IHTEF, emphasized that the festival is not just about food, but also about cultural pride, tourism promotion, and economic empowerment.
Diala highlighted that by attracting both local and international visitors, the festival positions Imo State as a hub for culinary tourism. It aims to create opportunities for farmers, food vendors, youth SMEs, FCMGs, and hospitality businesses across the value chain. The Ofe Owerri Food and Drink Festival 2026 promises to be a landmark international event blending heritage, hospitality, and culinary diplomacy.
He further stated that the festival is supported by a wide network of partners, including leading hospitality brands, beverage companies, tourism operators, cultural associations, diaspora organizations, and development agencies. The festival aims to foster cross-cultural exchange, attract the diaspora, and spotlight Nigeria’s culinary heritage on the global stage.
Diala urged the media, tourism promoters, development partners, and the general public to join in making history as Nigeria tells its culinary story to the world through the Ofe Owerri Food and Drinks Festival.