A Nigerian chef aiming to ensure traditional African cookery skills aren’t “lost” in Glasgow has been given a major boost despite health concerns.

Ifeoma Nwankwo was given permission to sell booze at her Apocom Kitchen restaurant on the Gallowgate amid strong opposition from NHS bosses.

The eatery sits in the Parkhead West and Barrowfield ward which has been designated as an ‘overprovision zone’, meaning it’s one of the easiest areas to buy alcohol in Glasgow.

It has previously been identified as the most deprived area in Scotland with one of the worst records for alcohol-related deaths.

But Ms Nwankwo is attempting to help turn that around through her restaurant, which also provides a foodbank service, cookery classes and community clean-up schemes.

Despite that, Elena Smith, speaking on behalf of Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “This area is the worst for alcohol-related harm and alcohol related deaths in Glasgow.

“We suggest that any further increase in alcohol provision in this area is likely to have a detrimental impact on the community.”

Ms Nwankwo will be able to sell a range of beers, wines and spirits to those eating at her restaurant until 12am every day.

Ms Nwankwo added: “We cover the whole of Africa in what we provide here.

“There are another two restaurants in Glasgow, both in the city centre, but we an individual in what we do.

“We have only been here for six months but we have done well so far.

We were lucky enough to be granted the licence and hopefully this means we’re going to get bigger, but that success won’t happen overnight.”

The city’s licensing board received objections to those

plans from the area’s MSP John Mason.

But Jack Cummins, the agent representing the chef, told the board that Apocom Kitchen is a community interest company, meaning its primary objective is to “serve the community rather than generate profits for shareholders”.

He rubbished the objections as “apocalyptic” and revealed that the restaurant had been operating a “bring your own bottle” policy previously.

The board agreed with

those comments and granted an on-sales alcohol licence for the restaurant.