General News
TEN finalists have emerged for the grand finale of the Eko Flavours cooking competition.
The event took place at the Lagos Food Hub in Idi Oro, Mushin
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the finalists emerged after a keenly contested quarter and semi finals of the competition involving 20 chefs on Thursday night.
The 10 finalists are Badejo Oreoluwakitan (Chefkitts), Afolabi Abisola (Rukybcooks), Isaiah Oyede (Isaiah_chef), Adesanya Abimbola Chiwendu (breezy_kitchen) and AkinniWre Oluwadamilare Ezekel (Chefdrey).
Others are Akorede Enitan Olamide (Enny_tan_) Sanusi O. Kaothar (Kaotharr_), Omobonike Awosanmi (Aveonkitchen), Ibidunni Layade (Ibidunnice) and Obodiahi Blessing (BeesandbaVer).
NAN also reports that the grand finale of the Eko Flavour will take place on Saturday.
Ms Abisola Olusanya, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, at the quarter and semi finals competition, commended the participants for their creativity and innovative ideas in bringing their culinary skills to the fore.
Olusanya said the Eko Flavours competition was not about the best chef but the smartest with out of the box initiatives in cooking and presentation of meals to the judges and the live audience.
She said the competition was in line with the Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu’s THEMES+ agenda to empower the creative youths to showcase Lagos projects to the global map and ensure food security.
The commissioner urged the 10 finalists to put in their very best for the final leg of the competition.
“For the other 10 that were not chosen, the Lagos State Government has something in store for you,” Olusanya said.
She also commended the judges for doing a good job.
The commissioner thanked the entire audience who remained back till the end of the competition.
Also speaking, the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Tantacom Group, Mrs Jennifer Odufuwa, said the contestants had lived up to expectations.
Odufuwa also commended the judges for selecting 10 finalists who would compete for the N10 million cash prize and other consolation prizes.
Speaking to journalists during the competition, one of the judges, a certified Chef, Mr Adeyinka Arije, commended the participants who were mostly youths for their tenacity.
Arije encouraged them to use the knowledge gained from the competition to break barriers in the culinary industry and be self reliant.
The 10 finalists are going to battle for N10 million and other consolation prizes during the Eko Flavours cooking competition organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems in conjunction with the Tantacom Group.
NAN reports that ‘The Eko Flavours Project’ is a culinary platform for food vendors and chefs to showcase their talents in making delightful meals at a budget and interact with food enthusiasts, starting with the shopping process at an organised market.
The competition commenced with entries from 150 participants, out of which 50 were selected, which begin in September.
The quarter and semi final competition which lasted for almost six hours produced 10 finalists.
The winner of the final competition will be crowned Eko Flavours Champion Ambassador for one year with N5 million cash reward.
The second position goes home with N3 million naira and the third wins N1 million with many consolation prizes for other contestants. (NAN)
4th October, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Eko Flavours
