Eko Flavours Season 3 targets emerging culinary talents in Lagos

 
By Aderonke Ojediran
 
The Lagos State Government, in partnership with the Culinary Group, has launched the third season of the EkoFlavours culinary competition to discover and develop emerging culinary talents in the state.
 
 
 
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, disclosed this on Friday during the review and selection of contestants for EkoFlavours Season three at Alausa, Ikeja.
 
 
 
Olusanya said there was need for greater investment in creative opportunities for children and young people to enable them explore their talents beyond conventional career paths.
 
 
 
She said culinary arts provided an avenue for young people to experiment, express themselves and discover career possibilities beyond the classroom.
 
 
 
“Lagos must create more pathways for children to explore their creativity. We need to encourage young people to think beyond the conventional ideas of what a career should be.
 
 
“Culinary arts give children the opportunity to experiment, express themselves and discover possibilities that may not necessarily be available within the classroom.
 
 
 
“EkoFlavours should not be seen merely as a competition. It is a platform for opening new creative pathways and helping young people understand that their talents can become viable careers,” she said.
 
 
 
The commissioner urged parents, organisations and individuals to support initiatives that promoted creativity among children, noting that many young people had limited opportunities to explore their abilities outside the school environment.
 
 
 
Olusanya said collective support was necessary to expose more children to creative opportunities and encourage them to develop solutions, businesses and careers from their talents.
 
 
 
She said the current selection exercise was only the beginning, as contestants would go through additional stages before the finalists emerged for the main competition.
 
 
 
The commissioner also called on individuals and organisations passionate about the creative sector to support the initiative and expand opportunities for young talents across Lagos.
 
 
 
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Mr Emmanuel Audu, said the programme was designed to identify young people with talents and business interests in the food and culinary sector.
 
 
 
Audu said more than 300 applicants entered the competition, adding that the virtual pitching stage would narrow the field to the strongest contestants.
 
 
 
He said successful contestants would proceed to a food camp, where they would receive training in culinary skills and the business aspects of the food industry.
 
 
 
According to him, 10 finalists will subsequently be selected for the final stage, with the grand finale scheduled for November at a venue to be announced.
 
 
 
He said the initiative also offered financial rewards and mentorship, with the overall winner receiving N5 million, while the first and second runners-up would receive N3 million and N2 million respectively.
 
 
 
The Co-Chief Executive Officer of Culinary Group, Mrs Jennifer Odufuwa, described the third season as a significant milestone, noting the growth recorded by contestants from previous editions.
 
 
 
Odufuwa said EkoFlavours went beyond identifying culinary talents by giving emerging chefs visibility, creating opportunities and connecting them to commercial pathways.
 
 
 
She said some former contestants had expanded their businesses, secured partnerships with leading hotels and emerged as brand ambassadors.
 
 
 
“EkoFlavours is about taking talented chefs from obscurity to visibility and providing them with the support and opportunities required to build sustainable careers and businesses in the culinary industry,” she said.(NAN)