On arriving at the school , he made his strongest mark through sport , where he discovered a characteristic shared by those who often find themselves entering new horizons – he realised that he loved to lead . “ Captaining the school ’ s soccer 1st XI felt far more satisfying than being Head of House – that one was for my parents ,” he proclaims . It is not new knowledge that the sports pitches of our great schools tend to be associated with the creation of great leaders . But it is often the case that the calibre of the leader , and where and whom they lead , embodies the ethos of the school . It is that leadership that encouraged Emeka to start his hustle as a young businessman so early in life . The consolidation of the leadership skills learned at Winchester , along with a love and respect for his Nigerian roots , gave him the perfect strength to be able to take on the never-ending balance that restaurant entrepreneurs start off with , the one poised between the full bowl of jollof quinoa and the less full early bottom lines . The vision he shares with his sister , through the food , is to redefine how the British public identifies with Nigeria , introducing a country that is filled with self-confidence and strong cultural staples , celebrated by millions . The chef is often the most subtle of politicians , and there is no doubt that there is a brave and brilliant scope to the vision that Emeka has for the brand , and what it can do for the wider community . “ If you step up ,” he says , “ there is no ceiling .” One needs only to scope through Chuku ’ s social media pages to see how popular the brand has already become in a few months of operation . The international culinary scene offered in major cosmopolitan cities demands more than just post-dated memories of the exotic . For those who hail from international communities , restaurants such as Chuku ’ s invite the public into the very heart of a home – the kitchen – in order to receive a full engagement , through all senses , into what is meant by home in such cultures . In Britain the fusion of cultures that young men like Emeka have experienced , between a Lagos kitchen and grubbing hall , is still very new . And it can either be a narrative that leads to conflict or it is one that can be embraced and defined by young leaders like Emeka . “ Owning and crafting our own narrative – being that bridge – is why I do what I do ,” he says with pride .
The Wykeham Journal 2016 27