…LBCI Cooking Competition Winners to Compete at Akwaaba’s Prestigious Jollof Cooking Competition
The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has announced a strategic partnership between the Lagos Boy Child Initiative (LBCI) and the Akwaaba African Travel Market, a collaboration that will provide winners of the LBCI Boys Cooking Competition with an opportunity to showcase their culinary talents on one of Africa’s biggest tourism and hospitality platforms.
Speaking at the 2026 Prize-Giving Ceremony of the Lagos Boy Child Initiative (LBCI) Boys Cooking Competition, held on Monday, August 3, 2026, at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, the First Lady described the collaboration as a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to nurture young talents and connect them with real opportunities in the tourism and hospitality industry.
She disclosed that winners of the cooking competition will represent the Lagos Boy Child Initiative at the 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market, where they will participate in the Jollof Cooking Competition scheduled for September 13, 2026, at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos.
> “I am particularly excited to announce another important milestone in this initiative. Through our collaboration with Akwaaba African Travel Market, under the leadership of Ambassador Ikechi Uko, our prize winners will participate in the prestigious Jollof Cooking Competition scheduled for 13th September, 2026. This partnership opens another platform for our boys to showcase their talent, build confidence, interact with industry professionals, and compete on a larger stage,” Dr. Sanwo-Olu stated.
She noted that the partnership goes beyond a competition, providing young participants with invaluable exposure to tourism, hospitality and culinary professionals from across Africa while inspiring them to pursue careers within the hospitality sector.
According to the First Lady, the initiative aligns with the Lagos State Government’s vision of preparing young people for future opportunities by equipping them with practical skills that complement their academic education.
“There is something truly remarkable about a young boy who discovers that his hands can do more than write examinations or operate digital devices. They can also prepare meals, create opportunities, build careers and bring joy to others,” she said.
She stressed that the cooking competition is not simply about producing winners but about changing mindsets by teaching boys that responsibility, creativity, self-reliance and excellence transcend gender.
The First Lady explained that the cooking competition was introduced during the Lagos Boy Child Initiative Residential Workshop in Agbowa as a practical component designed to expose boys to culinary skills and demonstrate that cooking is a respected profession capable of creating wealth, employment and international opportunities.
“Our objective was simple but profound: to expose our boys to culinary skills, ignite their passion for the hospitality industry and help them appreciate that cooking is not merely a domestic activity but a respected profession capable of creating wealth, employment and global opportunities. Today, I am delighted that this vision is gradually becoming a reality,” she said.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu further noted that the initiative supports Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ Development Agenda, particularly its emphasis on youth development and social inclusion.
She observed that as Lagos continues to position itself as Africa’s preferred destination for tourism, hospitality, entertainment, culture and the creative economy, demand for skilled professionals will continue to rise across hotels, resorts, restaurants, catering businesses, cruise operations and international hospitality brands.
“Some of the young boys seated here today could become tomorrow’s celebrated chefs, hospitality managers, food entrepreneurs, culinary educators or restaurant brands. We must therefore begin to prepare them now,” she remarked.
Beyond career prospects, the First Lady described cooking as an essential life skill that promotes independence, confidence and responsibility, especially for young people pursuing education or careers away from home.
READ: Africa: Lagos First Lady Partners Akwaaba to Expand Boy Child Initiative Across Africa
“When our boys learn to cook, they are not becoming less masculine; they are becoming more responsible, more compassionate and better prepared for life,” she said.
She explained that the shopping vouchers presented to the winners were intended not merely as prizes but as lessons in planning, provision and responsible leadership within the family.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu also revealed that the Office of the First Lady has sponsored a three-week intensive culinary training programme, including accommodation and feeding, for the outstanding winners, noting that genuine empowerment requires sustained investment in talent development.
She added that the choice of the Lagos Marriott Hotel as the venue for the ceremony was deliberate, allowing participants to experience firsthand the professionalism and standards of a world-class hospitality establishment while interacting with professional chefs.
The First Lady commended the support of Lagos Rice Mill, Ebeano Supermarket, SPAR Market Nigeria Limited, Ibile Oil and Gas, Lagos State Fire Service, and Lagos Marriott Hotel, noting that the initiative demonstrates how government and the private sector can work together to create life-changing opportunities for young people.
She also thanked parents and guardians for encouraging their sons to embrace learning without limitations and urged the young participants to remain disciplined, focused, and committed to excellence.
The partnership between the Lagos Boy Child Initiative and the Akwaaba African Travel Market is expected to become one of the highlights of the 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market, Africa’s leading travel and tourism exhibition, where the young winners will showcase their culinary creativity before tourism stakeholders, hospitality executives, chefs, exhibitors and international visitors, providing them with an early platform to launch careers in the hospitality industry.
_By: Sam Opoku_
