VASCORP, RIFAN come together to announce Junior Chef in Kano.
Yinka Adewusi
A taste of Nigerian food culture was sferved up at the recently-concluded Indigenous Rice Junior Chef Competition in Kano State supported by Vascorp Nigeria Ltd, an FMCG distribution company that will bring delivery of= locally produced high quality food products to the homes and heart of Nigeria. The Kano chapter of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN)
organized the cooking competition for kids aged between 12 to 15 years. Over 100 young enthusiasts competed for the coveted awards. The objective of the cooking competition was to preserve the Nigerian food culture and inculcate traditional culinary skills among the youth in the so-called fast food generation.
In his opening remarks, Kano RIFAN chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu stressed the importance of indigenous food. According to him” Nigeria must eat what she produces and stop her dependence on imported rice”.
The competition was a flurry of cooking fun and exhibit of Nigerian food, particularly jollof rice as contestants had to cook their favourite dishes. Not surprising, Jollof was at the centre stage at the competition and Jolly Jollof a ready to use spice mix with chicken flavour was the star of the
event. Jolly Jollof is a ready to use blend of jollof spice mix with chicken
flavour and tomato that when added to rice gives an authentic taste of
jollof rice and makes a ready pot of jollof in just twenty minutes! It also
comes conveniently in a derica-size 800g.
Nigerians can now have a taste of an eclectic mix of convenience, health and
taste with the spice mix, that taste just like fresh home cooked food. The
new product promises authentic taste which is high on convenience and
affordability. Vascorp delivers these food products on safe and secured
technology to ensure that each item delivers that ‘just-cooked’ freshness
straight on plate!
Winners of the competition were presented their prizes at a glitzy gala
event the day following the competition. Aisha Mansur of First Grade
International School won the cooking competition and was awarded a cash
prize of N150000, Rukayya Awaisu of Maitama Sule College came second and was
awarded N70000 and Amina Kabir Muhammed of Kuntau Girls College came in
third and was awarded N50,000 cash.
RIFAN chairman commended the sponsors of the event for the cash awards and
other gifts and appreciated Vascorp Nigeria Ltd. for providing the Jolly
Jollof-branded apron and cap kits as well as Jolly Jollof Paste to make the
traditional Jollof rice.
Dignitaries who attended the function included the deputy governor of Kano
State, His Excellency Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and representatives of the
Hon. Minister of Agriculture and rural development, Central Bank Governor,
national president of RIFAN, Alhaji Aminu Mohammed Goronyo, representative
of the Emir of Kano, media and corporate bodies and they all cheered the
young talents who are keeping up with our food culture and tradition.