GTCO 2025 Festival Powers Nigeria’s Food Economy, Empowers SMEs
The 2025 GTCO Food and Drink Festival has once again reinforced Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc’s commitment to small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), as 213 Nigerian-owned food and beverage businesses were empowered through a zero-cost participation model that removed financial barriers and amplified local entrepreneurship.
Out of over 4,000 applications received from across the country, only 213 vendors were shortlisted for the prestigious festival, making participation a major milestone for indigenous brands seeking visibility, revenue growth, and market expansion, especially during the peak festive season.
Speaking at the festival, Fatimah Muhammed, founder of Mini Loaf Heaven, expressed gratitude for being selected among thousands of applicants describing the opportunity as transformative, noting that the platform enabled her to showcase a wide variety of cakes to a diverse audience.
“Being selected among 213 vendors from over 4,000 applicants is truly humbling. The exposure has been massive, and people are genuinely enjoying our products. GTCO has given small businesses like mine a voice and visibility we could not have afforded on our own,” she said.
Similarly, Temidayo Edun of Squeeze Culture Packaging, a brand known for processing and packaging over 25 locally sourced fruit products, highlighted GTCO’s 2025 initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s food value chain.
“GTCO’s initiative goes beyond sales. It supports local production, value addition, and sustainability. Platforms like this help SMEs scale faster and connect directly with consumers,” Edun noted.
For Christinah Oyindamola Akinrinde, founder of Signatures Snacks Global, the festival created an avenue for direct customer engagement and brand growth. She revealed that participation had significantly boosted sales while expanding her customer base beyond expectations.
“The visibility and patronage have been overwhelming. This festival has helped position my brand more strongly in the market,” she said.
Also sharing her experience, Kofoworola Awoyera, Chief Executive Officer of Dharkag Empire Limited, showcased a range of naturally and locally produced food items, including garlic powder, jollof rice spice, potato spice, and palm oil. She described the festival as a catalyst for economic empowerment and local content development.
“GTCO has deliberately created a platform that celebrates Nigerian-made products. The impact on our business—in terms of sales, networking, and brand trust—has been enormous,” Awoyera stated.
In the beverage segment, Kolapo Abdulazzez, founder of Griot Island, attracted large patronage with a vibrant display of creative, non-alcoholic and cocktail-inspired drinks such as strawberry daiquiri, piña colada, Power Puff Girls, Chapman, and mojito. He described the festival as a powerful launchpad for emerging beverage brands.
“This platform has helped us connect directly with customers and showcase our creativity. The visibility and sales have been very encouraging, and it has strengthened our brand presence,” Abdulazzez noted.
Beyond individual success stories, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival underscores a broader economic impact. By eliminating vendor participation fees, GTCO has lowered entry barriers for SMEs, allowing entrepreneurs to channel resources into production and innovation rather than logistics. The initiative has also created revenue-generating opportunities, boosted consumer confidence in local brands, and strengthened Nigeria’s food economy.
As the festival continues to grow in scale and influence, it remains a powerful testament to how corporate-led initiatives can drive SME empowerment, promote local enterprise, and contribute meaningfully to national economic development.
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