Brands/Products
Brian Nwana, Sisi Yemmie, 10 Others Become MAGGI Food Ambassadors
By Dipo Olowookere
Twelve food content creators have been chosen as the new MAGGI Food Ambassadors, and would be expected to use their platforms to promote the seasons produced by Nestle. The next generation of culinary innovators will drive authentic African food storytelling across digital platforms.
The new ambassadors are Brian Nwana, Sisi Yemmie, Ify’s Kitchen, Geenafoodiesandspice, Dr Jamila Lawal, Anisah Lawal (the.chefnisah), Mariam Buhari (Fabulous_nosh_and_recipes), Egbe Chukwualuka (cookwith_aluks), Okeke Oluebube (cookwith_mimii), Samira Abdullahi (Samrahs_cuisine), Zainab Saad Ahmed (Hanan_malab), and Bello Yasmine Mansur (Yasmieen_ymb).
These persons were unveiled by the leading culinary brand at the second edition of the MAGGI Creators Conference, themed The MAGGIVerse 2.0.
Held from November 1–2, 2025, in Lagos, the two-day event brought together hundreds of digital storytellers, food influencers, and creative entrepreneurs from across West and Central Africa. The conference served as a vibrant hub for learning, collaboration, and inspiration—exploring how creativity, storytelling, and innovation continue to shape Africa’s digital and culinary landscape.
In her welcome address, the Category Marketing Manager for Culinary (MAGGI) at Nestlé Nigeria, Ms Funmi Osineye, emphasized the brand’s long-term commitment to empowering African creators:
“The creator economy in Africa is redefining how stories are told, livelihoods are built, and communities are shaped. Through the MAGGIVerse, we’re helping creators turn passion into purpose while building a connected ecosystem that celebrates culture, creativity, and shared growth,” she stated.
Building on the success of its debut edition in 2024, this year’s conference featured panels, workshops, and masterclasses on storytelling, brand building, and digital monetization. Highlights included a TikTok Masterclass on content algorithms and authentic influence, as well as engaging discussions on “The Palette of Digital Content,” featuring Sisi Yemmie, Noble Igwe, Dr. Jamila Lawal, and Gina Ehikodi-Ojo.
In her keynote address, the former Nestle Director for Marketing Services Manager at Nestlé Nigeria and chief executive of Entod Marketing Limited, Mrs Iquo Ukoh, said, “We are witnessing a cultural evolution. Preserving traditional dishes and presenting them authentically online will be key to maintaining Africa’s culinary heritage.”
Brian Nwana, Guinness World Record holder and digital food creator, delivered an inspiring session on The Future Plate: Marrying Culinary Arts with Digital Frontiers, encouraging creators to stay consistent, leverage data, and seize seasonal opportunities to grow visibility and influence.Detty December is coming, an opportunity to trend food content because tourists will surely need to know where and what to eat.
Ghanaian lifestyle creator Kojo Junior described the Maggi Creators Conference as a powerful platform for cross-border collaboration and creativity in Africa’s digital space.It’s a great bridge for creators across countries.
Adding a platform perspective, the Publisher Partnerships Lead for Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, Ms Vivian Chuene, said, “The world is watching African creators. Global audiences are curious about African content, and now is the time to position creators to take advantage of that demand.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of Canal+ Africa, Mr David Mignot, has disclosed that MultiChoice is now fully integrated into the media group.
Mr Mignot disclosed this via a statement issued on Thursday, noting that this development marks a new phase in the evolution of one of Africa’s leading pay television operators.
He noted that the integration positions MultiChoice within a global media organisation with an extensive international footprint.
“MultiChoice is now a full subsidiary of a truly international media group operating in 70 countries. The group was founded in France, is listed in London and Johannesburg, and has a strong African presence with operations in more than 45 countries,” Mr Mignot said.
The statement underscores the scale of the combined business, highlighting Canal+’s global reach alongside its significant investments across Africa.
The completion of the transaction is expected to strengthen MultiChoice’s position in the African media and entertainment market by giving it access to the broader resources, expertise and international capabilities of the Canal+ Group, while reinforcing the group’s commitment to the continent.
MultiChoice operates across sub-Saharan Africa through platforms including DStv and GOtv, serving millions of subscribers with entertainment, sports and news content.
By Adedapo Adesanya
FoodCourt, a Nigerian cloud kitchen startup backed by Y Combinator, has suspended operations after months of unpaid salaries and mounting debts to vendors triggered a staff strike and forced the company to halt customer orders, according to a report by TechCabal.
The publication reported that customers first noticed on March 4 that they could no longer place orders through the FoodCourt app after the company disabled ordering as kitchen workers, delivery personnel and branch staff embarked on strike over unpaid wages. The company also owed outstanding payments to vendors.
By April 19, FoodCourt had temporarily shut its last operating branch after suspending activities across its Lagos and Abuja locations while seeking fresh funding and restructuring the business, according to the report.
The company’s chief executive, Mr Henry Nneji, said the decision to pause operations was not caused by a single issue but by a combination of operational, organisational and working-capital challenges.
“It’s important to clarify that the decision to pause operations wasn’t driven by one single issue. We reached a point where it became clear that continuing to patch those issues while operating wasn’t the right long-term decision,” he said.
“The objective is to build a stronger business than the one that existed before the suspension. We fully intend to bring FoodCourt back,” he added in an emailed response.
The company acknowledged outstanding obligations to employees, vendors, riders and service providers, but declined to disclose the number of affected workers or the total amount owed. It said efforts were underway to resolve the liabilities as part of its restructuring process.
It was also reported that the startup’s financial difficulties worsened after expansion into additional locations increased operating costs, while its cloud kitchen model came under pressure from rising labour, logistics, food and marketing expenses.
Despite the shutdown, Mr Nneji said FoodCourt intends to relaunch after completing its restructuring, adding that the company believes demand for its products remains strong.
Founded in 2021 by Henry Nneji and Paul Adokiye Iruene, FoodCourt operates cloud kitchens under multiple virtual restaurant brands through its consumer app. According to TechCabal, the startup had previously disclosed raising $1.7 million, delivering more than one million meals and reaching $4.3 million in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2024.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To further reinforce its commitment to continuous enhancement of customer experience through menu innovation and quality improvements, Chicken Republic, Nigeria’s leading quick-service restaurant brand and a flagship brand of Food Concepts Plc, has improved its Smokey Jollof recipe across restaurants nationwide.
As a customer-centric brand, Chicken Republic regularly evaluates consumer feedback, dining trends, and product performance to ensure its menu continues to deliver the quality and value to which customers have become accustomed.
The updated Smokey Jollof is part of this ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.
The refreshed recipe represents the latest evolution of one of the brand’s most popular offerings.
Developed with a focus on richer flavour, greater consistency and an even more satisfying eating experience, the improved Smokey Jollof reflects Chicken Republic’s dedication to meeting the evolving tastes and expectations of its customers.
“At Chicken Republic, our customers are at the heart of every decision we make. We are constantly listening, learning and looking for ways to improve the experience we deliver.
“The improved Smokey Jollof is a reflection of that commitment. We’ve refined the recipe to deliver an even richer, more enjoyable taste experience while maintaining the flavour profile our customers know and love,” the Managing Director of Food Concept, Mr Olumide Aniyikaiye, stated.
“Great brands evolve with their consumers. This update is not about changing what people love, but about making it even better.
“We are confident that customers will enjoy the improved recipe and appreciate the attention we continue to invest in delivering quality meals every day,” Mr Aniyokaiye added.
The improved Smokey Jollof is now available at Chicken Republic outlets nationwide, allowing customers to experience a more flavourful and consistent version of a fan-favourite menu item.
This latest enhancement underscores Chicken Republic’s broader commitment to innovation, quality and creating memorable meal experiences for customers across Nigeria.
