Ten finalists have been selected for the Eko Flavours ultimate culinary competition, which concluded on Thursday evening.
Following intense quarter and semi-final rounds involving 20 chefs, the top 10 chefs have advanced to the final showdown scheduled for Saturday.
The finalists are as follows: Badejo Oreoluwakitan (chefkitts), Afolabi Abisola (rukybcooks), Isaiah Oyede (Isaiah_chef), Adesanya Abimbola Chiwendu (breezy_kitchen), AkinniWre Oluwadamilare Ezekel (Chefdrey), Akorede Enitan Olamide (enny_tan_), Sanusi O. Kaothar (kaotharr_), Omobonike Awosanmi (aveonkitchen), Ibidunni Layade (Ibidunnice), and Obodiahi Blessing (beesandbaVer).
During the quarter and semi-final rounds held at Fresh Food Hub in the Mushin area of Lagos State, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, praised the contestants for their ingenuity and innovative culinary skills.
Olusanya emphasized that the Eko Flavours competition values creativity and unconventional approaches to cooking and meal presentation, rather than just culinary expertise.
She highlighted that the competition aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ agenda to empower creative youths, promote Lagos on a global scale, and ensure food security in the state.
Acknowledging the 10 finalists for their outstanding performance, Olusanya encouraged them to give their best in the final phase of the competition. She also assured the remaining contestants of future opportunities from the Lagos State Government.
The judges were commended for their meticulous selection process, and the audience was thanked for their unwavering support throughout the competition.
Co-Chief Executive Officer of Tantacom Group, Mrs. Jennifer Odufuwa, expressed satisfaction with the contestants’ performance, and praised the judges for choosing the finalists who will compete for the N10 million cash prize and other rewards.
Certified Chef and judge, Mr. Adeyinka Arije, lauded the participants, predominantly youths, for their perseverance and urged them to leverage the competition experience to excel in the culinary industry and achieve self-reliance.
The 10 finalists are set to compete for the N10 million prize and other rewards during the Eko Flavours Cooking competition organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems in collaboration with the Tantacom Group.
The Eko Flavours Project serves as a platform for food vendors and chefs to exhibit their culinary talents in creating delightful yet budget-friendly meals, engaging with food enthusiasts from the shopping stage to the final dish.
After receiving entries from 150 participants, 50 were selected for the competition, which commenced the previous month. The quarter and semi-final rounds, spanning nearly six hours, led to the selection of the top 10 finalists.
The winner of the final competition on Saturday will be crowned Eko Flavours Champion Ambassador for one year, receiving a N5 million cash prize.
The runner-up will be awarded N3 million, and the third-place winner will receive N1 million, along with numerous consolation prizes for other contestants.
