Nigerian named among 100 most influential women in South Africa
Ebiere Joseph Akunwa, a Nigerian and one of the pioneer staff members of the football magazine Kick-Off at its Nigeria launch in 2002, has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential women in South Africa in 2024.
Years ago, Ebiere Joseph Akunwa worked as an advertising and marketing executive for the Nigerian edition of Kick-Off magazine, but she has since transitioned into the culinary field as an entrepreneur and owner of Taste Full Plate.
In Cape Town, South Africa, she was honored at the prestigious Influential Women and Arts Awards (IWAA) 2024, held at the Baxter Theatre.
The award recognizes women who make a significant impact in their communities through their selfless, humanitarian, and entrepreneurial efforts across various sectors in the country. The event was attended by Bollywood star and King of Diversity Rajiv Mothie Doorghepersadh.
Ebiere Joseph Akunwa, one of the 100 women recognized, explained that she started her catering business just five years ago when she opened her first Taste Full Plate Dining at 77 Voortrekker Road, Boston, Bellville.
“Taste Full Plate has curated menus and participated in major food events, such as the International Food Evening at the University of Stellenbosch, which aims to integrate students through culinary experiences. Taste Full Plate is quickly becoming a household name, providing specialized culinary services for destination weddings.”
Since 2020, Taste Full Plate has also catered to filmmakers seeking unique food presentations. Additionally, the company has been serving the culinary needs of cyclists participating in the Cape Town and Franschhoek Cycle Tours since 2017, extending its services to the sports and recreation industry.
Taste Full Plate also provides services to exclusive student groups and specific departments at the University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape.
Ebiere explained that her motivation for introducing Nigerian cuisine into the hospitality industry in South Africa is rooted in her defining mantra: “Look at the Chinese; they first conquered the world with their food and then their products. Today, the rest is history.”
Ebiere holds a master’s degree in Public Relations Management from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and enjoys quality family time with her husband, Joseph, and their daughters, Odein and Virtue.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime.
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