Redefining festive celebrations with Inclusive, Family-friendly Experiences
By Temidayo Anthony
Publisher BorderlessMediaNg
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc) recently debuted the maiden Holiday Edition of the GTCO Food & Drink Festival 2025, marking a strategic expansion of Africa’s largest food and beverage platform into the festive season. Designed for food lovers, fun seekers, and Nigerians in the diaspora returning home for the yuletide, the Holiday Edition offered attendees the opportunity to experience and savour authentic Nigerian street food in a vibrant, celebratory atmosphere.
The two-day event took place on December 20 and 21 in Lagos, drawing large crowds of food enthusiasts eager to immerse themselves in the exciting and flavourful festival.
The Holiday Edition reflects GTCO’s evolving approach to experience-led engagement, with a strong emphasis on immersive consumer experiences while maintaining the Festival’s core objective of supporting Nigerian food entrepreneurs. This year’s edition featured 213 Nigerian-owned food and beverage businesses, selected from over 4,000 applications nationwide, reinforcing the Festival’s growing relevance as a credible commercial platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and a significant contributor to the creative economy.
Speaking with attendees on the at the event, Olushola, an interior designer, described the festival as “one of the best ways to unwind during this period.” She added that the combination of food and fun created a perfect opportunity for families to bond, noting that the idea was well thought out by GTCO. Olushola expressed excitement about sampling the wide variety of food on display and enjoying the festivities to her heart’s content.
Adebimpe, a banker, shared similar sentiments, stating that the Holiday Edition was a timely and well-conceived initiative. She noted that the event created a welcoming space where children could eat, play, and have fun, while parents enjoyed an array of food options and street food offerings throughout the holiday season.
The GTCO Food & Drink Holiday Edition debuted with an unlimited fun fair and a beautifully decorated Christmas playground for children. Unlike the annual GTCO Food & Drink Festival, the Holiday Edition did not feature masterclasses but instead focused on an extensive range of food stands. Guests were treated to African and Nigerian street food, pastries, drinks, contemporary street food concepts, artisanal beverages, modern fusion cuisine, as well as lively music and nonstop entertainment.
