LagosState Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya and other officials of the ministry at the unveiling of the 2021 Lagos Food Festival on Wednesday. |
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya who
disclosed this in Lagos explained that the Lagos Food Festival is an offshoot
of the erstwhile annual Seafood Festival where the State celebrates its seafood
varieties spiced up with other exciting activities, taking into cognisance
other value chains where the State has comparative and competitive advantage.
According to Olusanya, the Lagos Food Festival would help to
stimulate investors’ interest in the food business, create direct and indirect
jobs for value chain actors and artisans while developing networks and linkages
amongst stakeholders.
She pointed out that the Festival is expected to create 150
direct and indirect jobs as a result of increased marketing opportunities, set
up and dismantling of equipment for the festival, technicians to operate
equipment and other hands engaged to provide support services.
Olusanya added that another 500 induced business links are
expected to be established after the Festival to supply fresh and processed
seafood while over 3000 guests are similarly expected to attend the Festival.
The Commissioner noted that Festival would feature a wide
array of fresh products, organic groceries, dry food, confectionery, pastries,
ready-to-eat consumables and drinks in addition to seafood, meat and poultry in
line with the theme of the Festival which is ‘A Taste of Lagos”.
“The forthcoming Lagos Food Festival is a follow-up on the
success story achieved from the implementation of five editions of the
erstwhile Lagos Seafood Festival which was held between years 2012 and 2020.
“Although Lagos is a major player in the Fisheries Value
Chain, cognisance is being taken of the other Agricultural Value Chains where
the State has strong comparative and competitive advantage hence the rebranding
of the Lagos Seafood Festival to the Lagos Food festival.
“The objectives of the Festival will be to showcase Lagos
food potentials to the local and international markets; to stimulate investors’
interest in food business; to develop a network and linkages among stakeholders
and exchange information on products and services available in the global
market as well as create direct and indirect jobs for the value chain actors
and artisans engaged to set up activities at the festival.
“The Festival will also facilitate the linkage of various
agricultural supply chains to a market of Lagos food enthusiasts. It is
therefore envisaged that synergic relationships for the overall development of
the food subsector will be initiated with fishermen, farmers and vendors for
regular supply of fish and fisheries products during and after the Festival.
“One hundred and fifty direct and indirect opportunities
will be created as a result of increased marketing opportunities, setup and
dismantling of equipment for the Festival, technicians to operate equipment and
other hands engaged to provide support service. In addition, 500 induced
business links are expected to be established to supply fresh and processed
seafood after the Festival,” she asserted.
Olusanya stated that apart from the wide array and
exhibition of food products, there would also be culinary experiences such as
food tastings, cooking master classes with renowned chefs, outdoor grills and
thrilling entertainment.
The Commissioner assures that the Lagos Food Festival would
be exciting, entertaining and enlightening and that it would leave a
long-lasting impression in the minds of visitors and participants.
She therefore enjoined members of the public to attend in
order to enjoy the various points of the Festival which encapsulates
entertainment, the biggest fish auction, musical performances, games corner,
seafood pavilion, culinary competitions with celebrity chefs as well as family
cooking competitions among others.
The Y2021 Lagos Food Festival holds on Sunday, 12th
December, 2021 at the Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos.
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