By Doris Obinna
As the world celebrated the International Chefs Day 2022, the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria (APCN) was not left out. It commemorated the day at the new Lagos State Culinary Academy, Ikeja, with students from public and private secondary schools across the state.
The event included training on the importance of healthy eating and lifestyles, in line with this year’s International Chef’s Day’s theme: “Growing a Healthy Future.”
The national president of APCN, Paul Okon, said: “It has been a great pleasure engaging, educating and enlightening children on healthy eating, as we believe this is the foundation for a healthy future.”
He expressed his appreciation to organisations that have, over the years, promoted Nigeria’s food tourism, supporting capacity development of chefs and empowering the next generation of chefs.
Similarly, Moronke Azeez, executive secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), expressed her delight to be working with organisations on “this laudable initiative, which has been very impactful and a great learning exercise for the children.
“The event is fully aligned with the objective for the recent establishment of the Lagos Culinary Academy, aimed at producing professionals for the hospitality and food service industry, while equipping students for entrepreneurship and self-employment.”
Business manager of Nestle Professional, Funmi Osineye, said: “The wellbeing of children is the fundamental goal for parents and caregivers. It is also an indicator of societal development. We are therefore committed to working with stakeholders to enhance the wellbeing of generations to come through nutrition education as well as continuous provision of high-quality nutritious food and beverages. Today’s event is a platform for continuous engagement to encourage children to be creative with food.”
She acknowledged the APCN for consistently partnering with her organisation to achieve its global objective of helping 50 million children live healthier lives by 2030.
“We want to thank the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria for partnering with us through the years. We are also grateful to the administrators of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board for their collaboration to celebrate Chef’s Day 2022. We are delighted to witness the sincere interest in skilling up young people in Lagos State for gainful employment in the hospitality sector,” she added.
The event was commemorated via a fun-filled educative workshop and practical sessions coordinated by the chefs with a hands-on approach for the children, creating recipes out of fresh food items, including vegetables and fruits, and preparing healthy dishes during the cooking sessions.
The beneficiaries of the training came from public and private secondary schools in Lagos, and the Lagos State Technical College.
Other participants included chefs from the Lagos State chapter of the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria.
Speaking of her experience, Hope Shulamite, an SS2 student of Ilupeju Senior Grammar School, Lagos, said: “I am happy that I was chosen to be part of this event. I particularly enjoyed creating the recipes and cooking with the chefs and members of my group. I will definitely try out the recipes again at home and in school with my friends during our home economics practical. On behalf of all the students here today, I want to thank the organisers for giving us this wonderful learning opportunity.”