Students in secondary school across the Federal Capital Territory, have been asked to adopt culinary skills, as part of vocational skills that can help them become self-reliant in the future.
Founder of the Dine and Pack Culinary Training Centre, Chef Aishatu Gamalia, gave the advice at the 2023 Interschool Cooking Competition, which took place over the weekend.
Gamalia, popularly known as Chef Mimi, noted that learning a skill had become necessary given the harsh economic reality in the country, where white collar jobs are no longer readily available.
She warned parents and guardians of the dangers of failing to equip their children with skills, as according to her, the 21st century requires young people with vocational skill and not just paper qualifications.
She said the essence of the competition was to introduce students in the various schools in the FCT, to vocational skill, through cooking.
“For me, it’s about creating awareness that you have to be equipped with a skill no matter what it is. It can be cooking, tailoring, hair dressing, we just have to be equipped with a skill in our hands because the world is shifting from the regular nine to five, to what you can really do with your hands. For me, I believe what you can do with your hands, no one can take that away from you.”
Also at the event, the Founder of Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Abuja, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, applauded the organisers for the initiative, which brings young minds together to enhance their culinary skills.
Ahmadu, who was represented by the the Programme Officer for Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Abuja, Damaris Yakubu, said competitions like this are capable of redirecting and refocusing young minds.
“I will advise these young children to see this beyond being a competition, but rather an opportunity to showcase their skills and do much more wherever they find themselves.”
The competition, organisers say have created more awareness among young Nigerians, with more students signing up for home economics in their various schools.
Four schools, including Model Secondary School, Maitama, Government Girls Secondary School Dutse, Government Secondary School, Kubwa and Command Day Secondary School, participated in the 2023 edition of the competition with students displaying their culinary skills at various stages of the competition.
The winning school went home with N300,000 cash price, school shoes for the students, while the runner up went with N200,000.
