Nestlé Professional had celebrated International Chefs Day at the new Lagos State Culinary Academy, Ikeja, with students from public and private secondary schools across Lagos.
The event included training on the importance of healthy eating and lifestyles in line with this year’s International Chef’s Day themed: “GROWING A HEALTHY FUTURE’’.
According to Business Manager, Nestlé Professional, Funmi Osineye, the wellbeing of their children is the fundamental goal for parents and caregivers, saying it is also an indicator of societal development.
Osineye said Nestle was committed to working with stakeholders to enhance the wellbeing of generations to come through nutrition education and continuous provision of high-quality nutritious food and beverages.
In her words, today’s event is 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 fifty million children live healthier lives by 2030.
Osineye thanked the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria for partnering with through the years, expressing appreciations to the administrators of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board for their collaboration to celebrate Chef’s Day.
According to National President, Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria, Paul Okon, it has been a great pleasure engaging, educating, and enlightening children on healthy eating as they believe this is the foundation for a healthy future.
He 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 her comments, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board LASTVEB, Moronke Azeez said the agency was delighted to be working with Nestlé on the laudable initiative which has been very impactful and a great learning exercise for the children.
According to her, the event is 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”.
In her words, 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.
Speaking on her experience, Hope Shulamite an SS2 student of Ilupeju Senior Grammar School, said, “I am happy that I 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 foodservice industry, and helping to bring nutrition, health, and wellness education to present and future chefs.
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