One Lagos Food Festival creates hub for Flavours Of Lagos

  

By Paul Ukpabio 

For two days, October 2nd and 3rd, 2016, the people of Lagos gathered by the ocean front, the famous Bar Beach, Lagos, to dine, wine, laugh and virtually enjoy themselves as if they had looked forward to such an event all their whole life! Perhaps not their whole life, but the celebration and happiness that was experienced those two days by the big crowd that gathered at the One Lagos Food Festival, confirmed that,
The Food Festival, indeed created the needed hub for Flavours Of Lagos, for those two early days of this month October.

Mr. Folarin Coker

"So Lagosians love food?" Screamed a top Chief Executive of a new generation bank when he alerted his Range Rover at the Bar Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the One Lagos Food Festival to see the large crowd having fun.

For sight seers and tourists alike, there was much to learn about the various foods enjoyed by the people of Lagos, Nigeria and Africa, while for the business minded, multiple of newly created processed foods, new recipes, new food discoveries waiting to be invested upon, were on display, as food lovers, food technologists, food connoisseurs and investors, milled about the ocean front chewing, gisting, drinking and dancing to music of popular aritstes on the huge band stage at the ocean front.
 

According to Yasmin Tukur, who owns an African Pot food outlet, one Lagos Food Festival has been able to showcase not just the Flavours of Lagos, but also the Flavour of Nigeria, "You can see that this festival showcases the rich culture and diversity of Nigerian cuisine and delicacies. The music has also been attractive as it has turned this place to a social networking place too. So you do not just buy, but sit to eat and enjoy yourself with friends," said an elated Tukur.

The 2 day festival, also witnessed entertainment, live cooking demonstrations at some of the exhibiting corporate organisations. There was wine and champagne hosting, international food pavilion and favourite Nigerian suya and barbecue stands!

Lagosians came all out to experience this huge food festival. Also at the event was the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Folarin Coker, who mixed freely among Lagosians and foreign nationals at the festival.

Mr Folarin Coker who later spoke to newsmen at the festival said that, "The festival as an event is to raise national awareness about Nigerian foods. It was also planned to promote the production of food locally, encourage healthy eating, celebrate socialisation and promote Lagos as a destination amongst other benefits.