Lagos Govt. to organize cooking competition in August

Winner to take home ₦5 million

The Lagos State government has announced the Eko Flavours project, a cooking competition set to take place in August 2024. The event aims to celebrate the diverse food culture of Lagos while promoting culinary skills among upcoming chefs, culinary students, and local food vendors.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, made this announcement on Friday during a press conference at the Fresh Food Hub in Idi-Oro, Mushin.

Ms. Olusanya stated that the Eko Flavours project would showcase the cooking talents of various chefs residing in Lagos, highlighting a variety of cultural dishes for the enjoyment of residents.

“Eko Flavours is happening at the Fresh Food Hub in Idi-Oro to showcase Lagos as the melting pot of the nation,” Ms. Olusanya said. “We have many in the informal sector contributing to the food sector of our state, and this is an opportunity for them. This competition is for food enthusiasts. We will first pick the top fifty participants, then narrow it down to twenty, then ten, and finally five. The winner will receive ₦5 million, vouchers for food items, and other exciting prizes for the runners-up.”

Ms. Olusanya also noted that Eko Flavours will become an annual event and encouraged chefs to register online via www.ekoflavours.lagosfreshfoodhub.com. She mentioned that selected chefs would be given vouchers to purchase food items at the food hub in Idi-Oro.

Representatives of the Project Management Agency, Mrs. Olufunke Adu and Mrs. Jennifer Odufuwa, explained that the most engaged fifty chefs, who showcase their cooking process from purchasing at the hub to cooking, would be selected. From these, the best twenty will be shortlisted for the semi-final, and the top three will be crowned the state’s Eko Flavours Ambassadors for the next year.

“The idea of the Eko Flavours project is to encourage upcoming chefs and cooking enthusiasts to showcase their skills at the food hub,” Mrs. Adu said. “The top fifty will receive vouchers to come to the hub and post their progress online. From there, we will select the best twenty to compete at the food hub in Idi-Oro.”

Mrs. Odufuwa added that the competition will test both the quality and speed of the participants’ cooking.

The Eko Flavours project competition will be held in August, with the first-place winner receiving ₦5 million, the second-place winner ₦3 million, and the third-place winner ₦1 million, along with several consolation prizes and deals.