To advance the culinary profession and promote Nigeria food culture across the globe, Association of Professional Chefs of Nigeria (APCN) has again called on the Nigerian government at all levels to support the profession as government support is very vital to the development of the profession in Nigeria.
This call was made by the president of the association, Chef Paulinus Okon, while briefing journalists on the just concluded West Africa Chefs Food Festival held in Ghana and informed about the association plans to host the festival in Nigeria by next year.
According to Okon, it is important that the government throws its weight behind the association in its quest to develop the profession and Nigeria food culture.
He specifically requested for the sponsorship of its members by both the government corporate bodies as well as good welfare packages.
He also shared their experience on a journey to Ghana saying the journey to Ghana was an interesting one, adding that it all came about having the West African Food Festival.
The team Nigeria chefs who recently won two brown medals out of the 16 west Africa countries that participated in Accra Ghana added that Nigeria will be hosting West Africa Chefs Food Festival next year.
He thanked the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, (NTDC) for its continued support, stating that the association needs more support from the government because “Whatever we are doing we are doing for the cultural heritage and of course we are portraying the good image of our dear nation.
“Our journey to Ghana was hectic and it was not just cooking dishes but to also display our national dishes and that is also a way of showcasing our own food. So it has been so stressful and early this year we contributed money to organise our own congress and it was not easy. So the government should come in to support the association so that we can position ourselves the way it should be.”
The association also called on the government to establish the ministry of Tourism as there is no state in Nigeria that does not have tourist attractions, adding that the ministry of Tourism helps to develop our GDP.
