The seventh edition of the popular Ofada Rice Day Festival is set to take Lagos by storm. Slated for Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Muri Okunola Park, the festival carries the theme: “Ofada Rising: Celebrating Innovation, Identity and Nigeria’s Culinary Future.”

The event will feature cultural and artistic showcases, innovation hubs, farmer and producer conversations, food exhibitions and tastings, culinary competitions, and panel discussions with industry experts. Additionally, the festival will mark the global unveiling of Ofadabration Canada 2025.

Speaking on the occasion, Tobi Fletcher, convener of the festival and Creative Director of OfadaBoy, said:

“My connection to Ofada rice runs deeper than business. I come from a lineage of first-generation rice farmers, and my great-grandfather was the first Ofada rice farmer. It is a legacy built on sacrifice, innovation, and tradition. This work today is a continuation of that story, a responsibility I carry with pride.”

Fletcher, who has nearly two decades of experience in the hospitality and food service sector, added:

“With close to 20 years in the hospitality and food service sector, I have seen the evolution of Nigerian cuisine, the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the incredible potential of our local foods. That experience guides the work we do with OfadaBoy and the Ofada Rice Day Festival.”

He noted that Ofada rice has evolved from a local staple to a national treasure and a symbol of Nigerian culinary identity. “Ofada is no longer just rice. It is a movement,” Fletcher said.

The festival, organized in partnership with Oyinda Fletcher, aims to support local farmers and processors, build culinary tourism, promote Nigerian food globally, standardize food service practices, empower chefs and food entrepreneurs, and create stronger platforms for innovation.

At its core, the Ofada Rice Day Festival is committed to uplifting local food sellers, market women, small-scale vendors, cooks, and emerging food entrepreneurs, celebrating their contributions to Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage.