The Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, has selected 50 local chefs to compete in the inaugural Eko Flavours Competition.
The Eko Flavours Project aims to create a platform for food vendors and chefs to display their skills and engage with food enthusiasts, beginning with a shopping phase at an organized market.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, at a press conference on Thursday in Ikeja, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abiola Olusanya, announced that over 150 applications were received for the competition.
It was learnt that while 70 applications initially met the criteria, only 50 were chosen based on their one-minute video submissions.
“We want to build a culture of eating healthy and to see how best we can maintain a good diet. The contest is designed to be a culinary platform for food vendors and chefs to showcase their talents and interact with food enthusiasts.
“The Eko Flavours Project is a transformative platform to showcase both the state, as the melting point of Nigeria, and the culinary prowess of its youths and local market vendors,” Olusanya stated.
She explained that the project, in collaboration with the private sector, aims to revamp Lagos State’s food markets and enhance the state’s food system.
“Part of the requirements for this contest was for the contestants or would-be contestants, or those interested in the competition to submit a video, stating why they would love to be a part of the competition.
“We received well over 150 entries, videos, and submissions, but looking through in line with the criteria and instructions, it dwindled to 70 entries.
“All of us here today in the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as our collaborators and sponsors, have gathered here to select the top 50.
“To move to the next stage of the contest, it has to be 50 contestants and down to the quarterfinal, semi-final, and grand finale,” the commissioner noted.
Olusanya added that public votes would determine the top 20 finalists, ensuring a fair and transparent selection process.
A Co-Chief Executive Officer of Tantacom Group, Mrs. Jennifer Odufuwa, emphasized that the gathering of stakeholders for the selection exercise was intended to ensure fairness and transparency.
Odufuwa remarked that the contestants had met expectations.
The competition’s winner will be named Eko Flavours Champion Ambassador for a year and will receive a N5 million cash prize, an award plaque, a year’s supply of free products, a N200,000 shopping voucher for Mushin Fresh Food Hub, and a certificate of achievement.
The first runner-up will get N3 million, a six-month supply of products, a N100,000 shopping voucher, a certificate of achievement, and an award plaque.
The second runner-up will be awarded N1 million, a three-month supply of products, a N50,000 shopping voucher, a certificate of achievement, and an award plaque.
Cash prizes will also be given to the fourth and fifth place winners.
The one-minute videos submitted by the 70 applicants were reviewed by professional chefs, and the 50 chosen participants will be provided with vouchers to shop at the Food Hub, Idi Oro in Mushin, for the next stage of the competition.
