By George George Idowu
Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems has introduced a cooking feast tagged Eko Flavours to celebrate the state’s cultural heritage and culinary creativity.
Registration for Eko Flavours was opened on August 8, 2024. The registration period ends on August 23, after which voting will commence on August 26.
Part of the conditions attached for participants in the cooking feast is that the person must be 18 years or older and possess a valid LASRRA card.
Participants are required to upload a one-minute video of their cooking prowess on their social media handles, tagging @theekoflavours and @lagosfreshfoodhub.
According to the coordinating ministry, judging will be based on creativity, social media engagement (likes, comments, and shares), and the overall appeal of the dish.
The top 50 contestants with the highest levels of engagement will move forward in the competition. The 50 contestants who advance will be given specific tasks to complete.
It was gathered that from this stage, the top 20 will be selected to move on to the quarterfinals, set to take place at the Lagos Fresh Food Hub in Idi Oro, Mushin, on September 28.
The quarterfinalists will compete for a coveted spot in the semifinals, where the top 10 contestants will face off to determine the final five.
The finalists will compete for the Eko Flavours Championship title in a grand finale on October 5.
The grand prize for the winner is N5,000,000, with the first runner-up receiving N3,000,000 and the second runner-up N1,000,000.
This competition offers residents in Lagos irrespective of their background, home state or religion, a unique platform to showcase their culinary skills.
In addition, consolation prizes will be awarded to other deserving contestants. This tiered prize structure promises to encourage participation and reward culinary creativity.