By Foday Moriba Conteh
Demonstrating strong appreciation for women in the food business and marking this year’s World Food Day, Premium Divine Trading Limited, through its Onga Seasoning brand, on Saturday, 18th October 2025, concluded a weeklong outreach activity that saw the distribution of free, cooked food prepared with Onga seasoning and special appreciation gifts to market women across major markets in Freetown.
The initiative, which ran from October 13th to 18th, 2025, and covered Waterloo, Funkia, Calaba Town, Guard Street, Dove Cot and Congo Markets, formed part of the company’s ongoing commitment to promoting food security, nutrition awareness and appreciation for small-scale traders. During the event, over 2,500 market women received freshly cooked meals prepared with Onga seasoning, along with appreciation gifts and branded items such as aprons and wrappers.
In his address, Philip Kanu, Marketing Lead, Premium Divine Trading Limited, said the weeklong celebration was organized in commemoration of World Food Day, an international observance designated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on October 16 every year, to raise awareness about food security and promote access to nutritious, affordable and sustainable diets.
“This year, we could not let World Food Day pass without recognizing the immense contributions of market women in ensuring food reaches every Sierra Leonean household,” Philip Kanu said. “We have prepared nutritious and delicious food using our Onga seasoning and distributed it to thousands of market women who tirelessly feed the nation.”
He added that the activity also served as a gesture of gratitude to traders who have supported the Onga brand over the years. “Apart from sharing food, we presented gifts such as aprons, wrappers (lappas) and other branded Onga materials to show our appreciation,” Philip Kanu explained.
This year’s World Food Day theme: “The Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future” aligns with Premium Divine Trading’s corporate vision of promoting access to healthy meals for all. “As a company that operates in the food sector, we strongly believe that everyone, regardless of their status, deserves safe, nutritious and sustainable food,” Philip Kanu emphasized.
He disclosed that the initiative targeted about 2,500 market women, who received freshly prepared meals and appreciation packages. “Beyond the food distribution, our outreach engaged the wider market community cooks, traders and other food vendors to remind everyone about the importance of a balanced diet,” he said.
Explaining how the markets were selected, Philip Kanu noted that Premium Divine Trading worked closely with market chairladies and the company’s sales representatives to ensure inclusivity. “For every catchment area, our sales teams collaborated with the market leadership to identify traders actively involved in food-related businesses. Each participating vendor was registered and our team visited every tabletop listed for inclusion,” he stated.
He described the weeklong journey across different markets as both fulfilling and emotional, given the warm reception from market women who expressed gratitude for the recognition. “Market women are the unsung heroes of our food system,” Philip Kanu said. “Every day, they wake up early, brave the sun and rain to sell food items that sustain households. It’s only fitting that we celebrate them on World Food Day.”
“As a brand, we are committed to promoting healthy cooking and supporting small-scale traders who form the backbone of Sierra Leone’s informal economy,” Philip Kanu remarked. “This event is part of our broader corporate social responsibility to give back to the community that continues to believe in and support Onga.”
He encouraged Sierra Leoneans to continue supporting the Onga brand and to prioritize nutrition and food safety in their homes. “Food is not just about eating; it is about sustaining life, promoting health and building a stronger nation,” Philip Kanu noted.
Speaking on behalf of market women, Yeabu Sesay, Acting Chairlady of Congo Market, commended Onga for its weeklong outreach activity that distributed freshly cooked meals and appreciation gifts to market women across major markets in Freetown.
“We appreciate this company because they value we as market women. We go continue for use Onga because the taste fine and di people dem good to we,” she added in the local parlance.
She expressed gratitude on behalf of the traders, noting that such initiatives bring joy and encouragement to women who work tirelessly to support their families. Yeabu Sesay highlighted that Onga seasoning remains a favorite among local cooks due to its rich taste and quality, urging fellow traders and consumers to continue using the brand.
The Acting Chairlady also thanked the Onga team for recognizing the contributions of market women and for sharing gifts such as aprons and branded materials as tokens of appreciation.
Fatu Sesay, a market woman also expressed their joy and gratitude to Premium Divine Trading Limited. “Onga don make we happy dis week. Dem nor only give we fine food, but dem tell we tenki for di wok we de do every day,” she added.
Throughout the weeklong outreach, Onga’s team infused excitement and color into every market they visited with cultural music and joyful interactions, leaving market women inspired by what many described as a first-of-its-kind gesture from a company. As the 2025 World Food Day celebration wrapped up, the company emphasized its ongoing mission to ensure every Sierra Leonean enjoys access to nutritious and delicious meals through continued innovation, community partnerships and consumer engagement.
