Jare Olukotun
Agabus Agboye has emerged as the winner of this year’s EKO Flavours Competition, a cooking competition aimed at improving and encouraging youth in culinary skills.
He received the sum of N5milion as the overall winner, while Chef Oluwadamilola Rotimi and Chef Peace Alexander were first and second runners up respectively. They got N3million and N1million respectively along with gifts from partnering companies.
This year’s edition of the competition which is the second edition was organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture & Food Systems in partnership with Culinara Group. It is themed “A Lagos Food Story.” The event on Saturday, took place at the Fresh Food Hub, Mushin, and featured 10 contestants who showcased their creativity in four categories — sandwich-making, appetisers, main course, and dessert.
Culinary experts in their various fields – Chef Amaka, Chec Ify, Chef Dee, Chef Dahlia and Food & Wine Critic Opeyemi Famakin served as judges.
Speaking at the grand finale, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said that most participants are young between 20 and 35 years and noted that they are all winners due to the rigorous and keenly contested competition.
Olusanya added that the state was intensifying efforts to boost local food production through the “Produce for Lagos” programme, aimed at connecting producers to markets and ensuring fair prices and quality.
Jennifer Odufuwa, Co-founder of Culinara Group, also speaking said that the competition was designed to detect young chefs and provide them with opportunities in the growing food industry.
