Lagos, Aug. 3, 2023: The Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria (APCN) has announced that Nigerian will be hosting the 5th edition of the West Africa Food Festival between August 9 and 14 in Lagos.
Chef Pauline Okon, APCN National President made this known at a press conference held at Hospitality Business School, Omole, Lagos.
The theme is: “Preserving West African Flavour: The Chefs Roles in Sustainable Tourism”.
APCN established WAFFEST in 2017 and since then, Ghana had hosted the festival three consecutive times, followed by Liberia.
According to Okon, WAFFEST was established with the aim of promoting West African cuisines.
He added that apart from promoting cooking skills, the festival also encouraged food tourism, cultures, music, workforce development and promotes committed chefs.
Okon noted that Nigeria would be hosting the festival for the first time to encourage how to eat well and healthy.
According to him, this is a time to give Nigeria Women opportunities to meet Chef leaders and mentors and to showcase the power of women in the series of meals and catering flavours.
He further added that it was an opportunity for Nigerian chefs to also showcase its superiority and promote Nigerian food tourism.
“Nigeria is hosting the 2023 edition because the objective of the event is to rotationally open up the food tourism potential of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS).
“The festival will be held in Lagos being the hospitality hub of Nigeria and it is also an easy access to other West African states coming by road,” he said.
The APCN president revealed that out of the 26 countries invited for the festival, so far, 19 countries had confirmed their participation.
“The countries are Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Republic of Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, Congo, Lesotho, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Cote d’ivoire, Senegal, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Netherlands.
“On August 9, there will be a welcome dinner for the contingents from other countries, followed by factory tour of some international brands that produce food ingredients on 10th.
“The official opening ceremony is slated for August 11 and thereafter, the festival will be moved to the Lagos State Culinary Centre of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board at Agidingbi, Ikeja.
“Also as part of programmes slated during the festival are the Master Chef Challenge, the Signature Jollof Challenge to determine which Jollof is the best in terms of flavour.
“The event will also play around different flavours of jollof rice from different countries in Africa,” he said.
The APCN president commended Nigerian Tourism Development Authority and National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism for their support and collaboration.
He also expressed his appreciation to Maggie Nigeria Plc, Tasty Tom, Friesland, LASTVEB and Hospitality Business School for their support and sponsorship.
