A Nigerian lady, Ebiere Joseph Akunwa who was one of the pioneer staff members of football magazine, Kick-Off when the South African-based publication was launched in Nigeria in 2002 has been recognised among 100 influential women in South Africa in 2024.

  Ebiere Joseph Akunwa receives her award from Pinky Mothie, the Director of Influential Women and Artes Awards IWAA.

Years ago, she was an advertising and marketing executive for the Nigerian edition of Kick Off magazine. She has since veered off into culinary. As an  entrepreneur and owner of Taste Full Plate

In Cape Town South Africa, she was recognised at the epoch-making Influential Women and Artes Awards (IWAA) 2024 held at  Baxter Theatre in Cape Town.

The award recognises women doing South Africa proud by making a substantial difference in their communities through their various selfless, humanitarian and enterprising endeavours that cut across different sectors of the country. 

It had in attendance  Bollywood star and King of Diversity Rajiv Mothie Doorghepersadh.

 Ebiere Joseph-Akwunwa with Rajiv Mothie  a multifaceted professional with expertise as an Actor, Producer, Media Buyer, Marketing Specialist, and Performance Coach.

Ebiere Joseph Akunwa who was among the 100 women recognised explained that she started the 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 featured in big food events like the International Food Evening at the University of Stellenbosch which is the university’s biggest event aimed at using food to integrate its students. Taste Full Plate is fast becoming a household name providing special culinary services for destination weddings.” 

Since 2020, Taste Full Plate has also been catering to the needs of film-makers seeking adventitious food effects. The services of Taste Full Plate are also extended to the Sports and Recreation industry where the culinary needs of cyclists attending the Cape Town and Franschhoek Cycle Tours are been served since 2017.

Ebiere Joseph-Akwunwa flanked to her left by  Dr Mama K Akiyode-Adebayo  )of the Nigerian Community Western Cape and Prof Ada Ordor the Director at Centre for Comparative Law in Africa at the University of  Cape Town.

Taste Full Plate also vends its services to exclusive student groups and specific departments of the University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape.

 She explained that her motivation in using Nigerian food to venture into the hospitality industry in South Africa was anchored on what she described as 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 a laid-back family time with her husband Joseph and daughters Odein and Virtue.