By Aderonke Ojediran

The Lagos State Government on Friday unveiled the junior edition of its flagship culinary competition – Eko Flavours.

The competition – Eko Flavours Junior Edition – will serve as a strategic platform to promote education, creativity and innovation.

The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, made the disclosure on Friday in Lagos.

She said that the competition would serve as a platform for the development of future culinary professionals, who would contribute meaningfully to the state’s agriculture and food systems.

Olusanya spoke at a stakeholder dialogue on Eko Flavours Junior.

The event, with the theme, “Flavours of the Future”, was organised by the state’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Culinara Group, and other partners.

Olusanya said that the competition would target children, aged 10 years to 13 years.

She said that it was aimed at inspiring a new generation of young chefs, while integrating agricultural education and food sustainability into their creative journey.

“This platform is about much more than just cooking. It is about unveiling the dreams and career paths of young minds while stimulating innovation in food preparation and presentation,” she said.

According to her, the competition will start with online registration from June 16 to June 30.

She said: “Through this competition, we are creating a space for children to showcase their culinary talents and inspire creativity in the food sector.

“Winners will go home with cash prizes and other rewards, but more importantly, they will gain exposure to opportunities in agriculture and food systems.”

She said that the competition was designed to build a supportive ecosystem which would foster innovation in food and strengthen the agricultural value chain across the state.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Emmanuel Audu, said that the state government was deliberate about using platforms such as Eko Flavours Junior Edition to promote family bonding, job creation and a sustainable future.

“We are not only developing skills, we are also creating connections between generations and building a solid foundation for food security through knowledge transfer,” he said.

The Project Lead for Eko Flavours Junior Edition, Mr John Fadejola, gave insights into the structure of the competition.

He said that the grand finale would take place on July 26.

“The goal is to spotlight talented junior chefs and show that agriculture is not just about farming; it is a space for creativity, technology, and innovation.

“We want to reshape perceptions and encourage our youths to see food systems as vibrant career paths,” he said.

“Fadejola added that the initiative reflected the state’s commitment to long-term investment in youth development through dynamic and practical education platforms.

”With Eko Flavours Junior Edition, Lagos is reinforcing its position as a hub for food innovation while planting the seeds for a future where agriculture and gastronomy work hand-in-hand to empower the next generation,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participation is open to children within the specified age bracket, who possess a valid Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) identification number.

The winner will go home with three million Naira while the first runner up will get two million Naira and the second runner up, one million Naira. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Esenvosa Izah/Ijeoma Popoola