Heroes Award Winner Chef Saikou Bojang Takes Gambian Cuisine to International Summit in Nigeria

Written by: Alieu Jallow

Fresh from winning the Enterprise of the Year Award at the 2025 Heroes Awards, renowned Gambian chef and entrepreneur Chef Saikou Bojang is representing The Gambia at an international culinary and cultural exchange summit in Abuja, Nigeria.

The summit brings together chefs, hospitality professionals, and industry leaders from across Africa to promote knowledge-sharing, professional development, and regional collaboration within the hospitality sector.

Chef Bojang, an internationally acclaimed culinary expert known for his award-winning cuisine and celebrated Jollof rice, was invited by the President of the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria to deliver a motivational address and conduct culinary training sessions for participating chefs and hospitality professionals.

His appearance at the summit comes shortly after receiving national recognition as Enterprise of the Year at the Heroes Awards, an initiative organised by The Fatu Network in partnership with Africell to honour outstanding Gambians contributing to national development.

Speaking to The Fatu Network via WhatsApp, Chef Bojang expressed gratitude for both the award and the opportunity to represent The Gambia on an international stage.

“I feel grateful, humbled and honoured to receive this invitation. Winning the Heroes Award as Enterprise of the Year meant a lot to me, and I sincerely appreciate everyone who made it possible. I never imagined being on such a platform because my focus has always been on building and mentoring young chefs, especially underprivileged young women,” he said.

Chef Bojang noted that the recognition from the Heroes Awards, combined with the opportunity to engage culinary professionals from across the continent, has further elevated his work and expanded the reach of Gambian cuisine.

“One of the most exciting aspects of this opportunity is the chance to showcase our heritage cuisine to Nigerians and other countries represented at the summit,” he said.

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Spice Hub believes culinary exchanges play an important role in promoting tourism, strengthening Africa’s hospitality industry, and creating greater appreciation for local cuisines.

According to him, introducing international audiences to Gambian dishes can help position the country as an emerging culinary destination while opening new opportunities for food tourism.

“Connecting people through food and sharing our culinary heritage can help grow Africa’s hospitality industry, encourage food tourism, and place our cuisines on the global map,” he added.

Chef Bojang’s participation is expected to strengthen culinary ties between The Gambia and Nigeria while showcasing the richness and diversity of Gambian cuisine to a wider international audience.