Welcome to my Leadership Series.
I believe that the best way to learn is to listen to and engage with people who are experiencing noticeable wins in the area of life you wish to excel at.
In this series, we will share our discussion with notable leaders (in various fields) whom we believe you will both learn from, and be inspired by.
This week and next we are showcasing Chef Chukwuemeka Vincent-Eloagu Lead Chef at Hélène’s Food Co
Lizspire: Good afternoon Sir. It’s a privilege and honor to have you here on our LizSpire Leadership Lessons series. To kick off our conversation could you please introduce yourself; tell us a bit about yourself, your background and what role you fill right now.
Chef Emeka: My name is Chukwuemeka Vincent-Eloagu and I’m a chef. I’m currently the Lead Chef at Hélène’s Food Co, a gourmet food company with French and Nigerian influences.
Lizspire: Thank you! I know the question foremost on the minds of Lizspire subscribers will be ‘how did you get here?’ Tell us about your professional journey.
Chef Emeka: I come from an engineering background; but I’d always wanted to be a chef.
In 2010 I started to feel very strongly that I had to do something about my dream then or never and so I took the plunge, moved to Paris in 2012 where I attended the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu and voila!
Lizspire: What inspired you to become a professional chef?
Chef Emeka: I always wanted to be a chef; I used to scribble recipes at the back of my physics and chemistry exercise books. Of course they didn’t make sense and probably would’ve been disastrous to eat!
Lizspire: Amazing! What has been the most challenging part of your journey to date?
Chef Emeka: Getting the right staff who understand my vision; people who get where I’m coming from. I think I’m on the verge of that now though. I have some fantastically motivated staff.
Lizspire: You recently opened your beautiful French-Nigerian Fusion Cuisine Restaurant in Abuja. Tell us how this happened. What’s the vision of the brand?
Chef Emeka: France and Nigeria or should I say West Africa share a lot of ingredients in common.
The cultures are intertwined because of our mutual history- the only difference is technique.
My dream was to merge the ingredients with the techniques and that’s how the food company was birthed.
And we are much more than a restaurant; we have facilities for shooting TV shows and manufacturing etc. as I always say it’s a Food Company with a Restaurant in it.
Lizspire: What’s your response to the question ‘how can I get to where you are’? I know you have heard these lots of times.
Chef Emeka: Find your purpose!
It sounds cliché I know but it’s so true. Half the battles you fight are eliminated when you’re in your lane. Don’t stop believing!
I can’t emphasize that enough!
Don’t stop believing; passion rides on the wings of faith.
Lizspire: Tell us more about Emeka; what makes him tick? What are his aspirations? What is he leaning into? And why?
Chef Emeka: I’m all about my work! Always trying to improve my craft! Always!
The dream is to establish Hélène’s Food Co in as many cities in Nigeria as we can in the next 5 years! It’s a lot of focus and hard work. At the moment I don’t have a life outside that and my Faith.
Lizspire: What role has mentoring played in your current success?
Chef Emeka: I haven’t had direct mentorship in my field, but I’ve had people I look up to encourage my journey even though they haven’t understood it perfectly.
Lizspire: Who are your mentors?
Michel Roux with Jill Foster at Le Gavroche in Upper Brook St, London. 16.12.2011
Chef Emeka: In the industry? First, Michel Roux Jr, he just does good food with a confidence and lack of arrogance that’s really what I’d like to emulate.
Then Jamie Oliver, he’s doing things entrepreneurially that are right up my street. He’s really influencing all spheres of the culinary world with advocacy and bringing good food to everyone’s table and also being a badass chef at the same time.
Lizspire: Are you mentoring anyone at the moment?
Chef Emeka: Yes I am. Through the internship and apprenticeship programs at Hélène’s Food co.
Lizspire: If I wanted to be mentored by you, what do I do?
Chef Emeka: Send a message to Hélène’s Food Co. Visit our Instagram pages @helenesfoodco and @chefemeka.
I always answer “healthy” genuine messages.
Lizspire: Some readers are reading this, and want to learn from you. But they may not have the opportunity to come work with you or move to Abuja. Where can they find learning opportunities with you online?
Chef Emeka: Follow me on Instagram @chefemeka; I share tips and will expand my media very soon to include a lot of helpful information.
Lizspire: In our country someone having the aspiration to become a professional chef is still winked at. What can we do to grow our minds and expand our horizon?
Chef Emeka: Education is key. Also a good example is a good way to start. There are a few professional chefs who are making impact in Nigeria, I think that collectively we can elevate the perception of the craft and the people involved in it.
Lizspire: I believe that we have some people working in banks, hospitals and even construction sites that have the flair and talent to be exceptional chefs. What would you say to these people to encourage them to lean into their passion?
Chef Emeka: Take a class or two first.
Take a week off work and intern in a functional professional kitchen. See if it’s for you. There are long tasking hours, check if you have the stamina before you quit your job. Sometimes passion is just not enough.
Lizspire: So, when you are not creating your mouth watering fusion meals (like your smoked fish ravioli, or chicken with katsu curry and your mouth watering zobo liquor …see, I was paying attention) what will we find Chef Emeka doing?
Chef Emeka: At church, or sleeping, or watching a cooking show lol!
Lizspire: I am sure subscribers are salivating already. So please tell us where we can come to and indulge our palette with your mouth watering culinary creations.
Chef Emeka: Hélénè’sFoodCo B003 (Third Floor) Kado Mall Adjacent NAF Conference Center (On The Next Cash n Carry Road) [click the link for map]
Lizspire: I’d like to say a big than you for your time and for your commitment to improving the employability of our youth.
Any last words for our readers?
Chef Emeka: Come and eat! Walk in and check out what we are doing. Bring a friend along.
Do you have specific questions for him feel free to send them in.
In the meantime, do you dream of standing out in your career as well? Do you aspire to climb to the top of your professional pinnacle? 
Then you will need some inspiration. My book 45 Reasons not to be Ordinary is available as a download. Visit the Lizspire shop and grab your copy.
