By Ayomide Otitoju
The maiden edition of the GTCO Fashion Food & Drink Festival – Holiday Edition delivered a festive atmosphere in Lagos, offering families and children an immersive end-of-year experience that many attendees described as a Christmas funfair.
Held in Oniru, Lagos Island, the event attracted thousands of visitors, with families and food lovers thronging the venue to sample a wide range of local and international cuisines. Streets around the festival ground were lined with vehicles as guests explored food stalls offering delicacies such as palm wine, suya, roast plantain (boli), popcorn, soups, amala with gbegiri and other Nigerian favourites, alongside assorted beverages.
The festival grounds and surrounding areas recorded heavy footfall, with attendees seen leaving with packaged meals and drinks, adding to the overall festive mood and memorable experience. Human and vehicular movement within and around the venue were orderly, supported by visible security arrangements.
Beyond food, the event featured several attractions for children and families, including a “Sky Race Coaster” ride and gift sessions with Santa Claus, popularly known as Father Christmas. Participants also took advantage of various photo and video opportunities to capture moments from the celebration.
A key highlight of the festival was GTCO’s zero-cost vendor participation initiative, which provided free retail spaces for food vendors and entrepreneurs. Numerous Point of Sale (POS) terminals were stationed across the venue to facilitate easy access to cash for visitors, further enhancing convenience.
Organisers said the initiative aligns with GTCO’s broader strategy to support small-scale enterprises, promote entrepreneurship and encourage financial independence. By offering free access to high-visibility retail space, the festival enabled entrepreneurs with innovative ideas but limited capital to reach a wider audience.
The GTCO Fashion Food & Drink Festival – Holiday Edition is expected to become a recurring feature on Lagos’ festive calendar, with organisers promising more updates and activities in subsequent editions.
