Nigerian food festival has been launched in South Africa by indigenes of Abia, the aim is to create jobs and earn foreign exchange.
The President of Abia Progress Union, South Africa, Mr Chima Umealo, on Sunday said on telephone that the food festival was launched to promote Nigerian delicacies to South Africans.
“The aim of the festival is to exhibit some Nigerian dishes, create employment for Nigerian chefs, boost importation of Nigerian food and earn foreign exchange,” he said.
A survey carried out by the union according to Mr. Umealo showed that Nigerian food was in high demand in South Africa. The event therefore is an opportunity to showcase some of the food and introduce it to South Africans.
The occasion presented a great opportunity for chefs to get a job, also the enthusiasm and attendance at the occasion was overwhelming, Umelo said.
He used the occasion to exhibit the rich cultural heritage we have in Nigerian food. It is going to be an annual event,’’ he said.
Report from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) stated that some of the Nigerian food displayed at the occasion includes egusi soup, okro soup, yam, fried plantain, plantain porridge, akara (bean cake), Garri, pounded yam, vegetables, native soup and bread fruit (Ukwa).
The President of Nigeria Union, South Africa, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, who also spoke on phone, commended the organisers of the event for exhibiting Nigerian food.
“This is a great opportunity to exhibit the rich culture of our country through food and encourage our people to export Nigerian food,” he said.
Anyene also urged Nigerians living in South Africa to be law abiding and be good ambassadors of the country.
Nigerians have initiated similar festivals in Glasgow, Scotland, where assorted Nigerian recipes are displayed and in most cases served in restaurants conspicuously written “Nigerian foods ready to be served.”
Posted by Juliet Ekwebelam
