Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, is set to host a major culinary, entertainment and lifestyle event, Ibadanchops’N’Chill, designed to celebrate Nigerian food culture and create opportunities for emerging chefs to showcase their talents.
The event, which will be held under the theme, “Empowering Young Chefs, Celebrating Nigerian Flavours,” is expected to attract between 1,500 and 2,000 attendees, including food lovers, chefs, young professionals, entrepreneurs, influencers, media personalities, creatives and other members of the public.
The convener of the event, Chinwendu Fetus, popularly known as Chef Wendy, disclosed this in a statement issued ahead of the festival.
According to her, Ibadanchops’N’Chill is designed to combine culinary competition, entertainment, networking and lifestyle experiences while providing emerging culinary talents with a platform to gain visibility and connect with professionals within the food and hospitality industry.
She said the initiative was conceived to celebrate Nigerian flavours and traditions while creating opportunities for young chefs and food entrepreneurs to demonstrate their creativity before a live audience.
A major attraction of the event will be a live performance by Fuji musician, Alhaji Taye Currency.
Chef Wendy said the entertainment segment would complement the culinary activities and provide attendees with an opportunity to enjoy food, music and other lifestyle experiences in one setting.
The culinary competition will be judged by professionals in the food industry, including Chef Amaka, Chef Dee and Chef T.
According to the convener, the judges will assess the competing chefs while also sharing their professional knowledge and experience with participants and members of the audience.
She said the competition was intended to encourage creativity and innovation among young chefs, build their confidence and expose them to opportunities within the food and hospitality sector.
Chef Wendy, who is the founder of Wendy’s Kitchen and Wendy’s Culinary Hub, said the event would go beyond a conventional food festival by placing emerging culinary talents at the centre of the experience.
She explained that participants would have opportunities to showcase their abilities before a live audience and interact with established professionals, potential customers and other stakeholders in the industry.
The convener said Ibadanchops’N’Chill was also expected to provide a platform for food entrepreneurs to build networks, explore collaborations and gain exposure that could contribute to the growth of their businesses.
She noted that the Nigerian culinary industry had continued to provide opportunities for young people, adding that initiatives that expose emerging talents to established professionals could help strengthen the country’s food and hospitality ecosystem.
According to her, the event is rooted in the celebration of Nigerian food culture and creativity, with attendees expected to experience a combination of local flavours, music, entertainment and networking.
“Empowering Young Chefs. Celebrating Nigerian Flavours” is at the heart of the initiative, with the organisers seeking to spotlight young people whose passion and creativity are contributing to the evolution of Nigeria’s culinary scene.
Chef Wendy said the festival would also provide an avenue for cultural exchange and collaboration among chefs, food entrepreneurs, creatives, influencers, media professionals and other stakeholders.
She urged food lovers, chefs, creatives, media organisations, industry stakeholders and members of the public to attend the event and support the next generation of Nigerian culinary talents.
She said the organisers were looking forward to welcoming attendees to an experience that would celebrate food, culture, entertainment and youth creativity in Ibadan.
