2026 MCC Distinguished Alumni Award

Metropolitan Community College has recognized Nina Sodji, award-winning chef, entrepreneur and community leader, as the College’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Her personal and educational journey laid the foundation for a successful culinary and entrepreneurial career rooted in cultural expression and community impact.

Sodji arrived in the United States on a business visa in 1994 and quickly began working as a nurse. Cooking food from her home country of Togo, a West African nation, is what truly ignited her passion and inspired her to enroll in the MCC Institute for the Culinary Arts. In 2014, she graduated from the program with an associate degree and a Certified Chef de Cuisine credential. She went on to a bachelor’s degree in business management from Bellevue University.

Sodji opened Okra African Grill in 2020, just two days before the City of Omaha imposed COVID-19 restrictions. Today, the restaurant remains open at 608 S. 72nd St. and pays homage to Sodji’s Togolese roots, with flavors and influences from France, Spain, Germany, India and countries throughout Africa that come together to create a unique culinary experience.

Sodji’s work has garnered widespread recognition, including the Business Rate Best of 2025, Best of Omaha (2021) and the Omaha Magazine Food Service Award (2020). She has also been recognized for her leadership as a 2023 Midlands Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree. She also won the 2022 Midlands African Chamber’s Pitch Black Competition. Sodji has been featured in numerous regional and national publications, including Midwest Magazine, Business Magazine, Bold Journey and Milford Magazine.

Beyond her professional success, Sodji is deeply committed to serving the community. She sponsors the Midlands African Chamber Young Leader Scholarships, which support Black, refugee and immigrant students pursuing careers in fields such as STEM, accounting, finance and law.

She has also supported the College through participation in the Open Kitchen Leadership Academy, engagement with culinary classes and involvement in MCC Food Tours, continuing to inspire current students through her example and mentorship.

“Nina Sodji exemplifies what it means to be a distinguished alumna,” said her nominator, Unyoh Mbilain, a first-generation American who works for the Nebraska State Bar Association. “Her achievements, generosity and unwavering commitment to uplifting others reflect the very best of the College’s values and spirit.”