Ekiti-born Nigerian chef, Damilola Adeparusi, widely known as Chef Dammy, has officially completed her studies at the Hospitality Business School (HBS) in Lagos, marking a major step forward in her culinary journey.
Chef Dammy—who first gained national attention after her June 2023 cook-a-thon attempt—finished the Professional Culinary Art Chef Diploma on a full scholarship, according to Horecabb Mentors, the owners of the institution.
Sharing the news on Instagram on Tuesday, she expressed her joy, saying, “It’s safe to say Chef Dammy is officially a professional chef. Grateful to have graduated from the best hospitality school in Nigeria, first in Africa and among the top 10 in the world.”
She went on to appreciate the support she received throughout her training: “Cheers to the grace of God and the favor of men that have brought me this far. God bless HBS. God bless my sponsors. God bless my supporters. God bless Nigeria. And God bless me.”
Prompt News reports reflecting on her early days at the school, she also reposted her February 2025 experience wearing the school uniform for the first time, writing, “My first time in school uniform as a proper pro. Chef in the making.”
She vividly recalled the warm welcome and her shy reaction: “I ran back into the hostel to go and blush. Being my first time in the school uniform, when I stepped out of the hostel, I started hearing, ‘Chef Dammy, you’re finally wearing the uniform, so fine!’ So I ran back inside, took selfies, and started blushing again.”
Chef Dammy extended her appreciation to Nigerian food entrepreneur Oluwatobi Fletcher (Ofadaboy), HBS Group CEO Dr. Mekwuye Eric, and the Ekiti State Government for making her enrolment possible.
According to Dr. Eric, the scholarship programme—jointly sponsored by HBS, Ofadaboy, and the Ekiti State Government with the backing of First Lady Yemi Oyebanji—also includes five additional courses designed to ensure recipients graduate as “complete and well-rounded chefs.”
