Nestlé Professional was on hand to celebrate International Chefs Day 2022 at the new Lagos State Culinary Academy, Ikeja, with students from public and private secondary schools across Lagos.
In line with this year’s International Chef’s Day theme: “Growing A Healthy Future’’, the event included training on the importance of healthy eating and lifestyles.
Funmi Osineye, Business Manager Nestle Professional highlighted the importance of the occasion in her remarks: “The wellbeing of their children is the fundamental goal for parents and caregivers. It is also an indicator of societal development.”
As to why Nestle was treating the event as a serious matter, Funmi said it was because her company was “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”, describing the event as “a platform for continuous engagement to encourage children to be creative with food”.
She acknowledged the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria for consistently partnering with Nestlé to achieve the company’s global objective of helping 50 million children live healthier lives by 2030.
Paul Okon, National President, Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria, expressed his pleasure at “engaging, educating, and enlightening children on healthy eating as we believe this is the foundation for a healthy future. He as well appreciated the role “Nestlé Professional has played over the years, promoting Nigeria’s Food Tourism, supporting capacity development of Chefs, and empowering the next generation of Chefs”.
In the same vein, Moronke Azeez, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) affirmed her delight at “working with Nestlé on this laudable initiative which has been very impactful and a great learning exercise for the children. The event”, she said, was “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”.
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, 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.
An SS2 student of Ilupeju Senior Grammar School, Hope Shulamite, said her experience was one of happiness that she 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 recipe 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 organizers for giving us this wonderful learning opportunity”.
Nestlé and the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria have been partners since 2014, making value adding contributions in the food service industry, and helping to bring nutrition, health, and wellness education to present and future chefs.
