Christy Anyanwu
Three words – fun, adventure and opportunities – aptly capture the experience at the third edition of the GTBank Food and Drinks Fair. The event revealed that the sector has witnessed a lot of growth though it was evident there are still so many untapped opportunities for small businesses.
Connoisseurs of food and drinks thronged the three-day event, which took place between April 29th-May 1, 2018 within the premises of the Lagos State Water Corporation, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Visitors and participants were treated to creative and innovative expressions of culinary skills. The event featured assorted kinds of outdoor and indoor restaurants, farmer’s market as well as street food.
The grand finale of the fair took place on May 1 and the venue was jam-packed with people as the public holiday for to mark the workers’ day afforded hundreds of people to join in the fun as they trooped out to the street market to buy: suya, pork nkwobi, abacha and other assorted delicacies. The ewa agoyin, ofada boy’s corner and the other food enterprises were all great depicting a variety of culinary skills as they served all kinds of mouth watering delicacies. The packaging and presentation of the foods and drinks was also very exciting and it also opened the eyes of many to the myriad opportunities and potentials in the sector.
Apart from eating, drinking and shopping, a large number of the people attended the culinary master classes, during which some high profile chefs shared their experiences and gave hints about how to be successful in business. The hall was filled to the brim while those who did not apply online were seen on a long queue trying not to miss the opportunity the training offered.
On ground for this year’s Master Class were acclaimed international chefs like Chef Sunny Anderson, Chef Siba Mtongana, Chef Benedict Okuzu, Chef Raphael Duntoye and Chef Imoteda.
The session started with Elizabeth Solaru, a chef, who took the audience through an exciting session on pastry and how to be creative, to make a difference. On his part, Chef Muse, had a presentation for Kids Masterclass while Scot Winston talked to his class about food business.
Shortly after the class by Chef Raphael Duntoye, Sunday Sun sought to know from the managing director of GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, how he felt about the turn out being the last day of the fair? “I am really grateful to God because all these we can’t do without Him. Truly, I feel very fulfilled. I see lots of people; I am also seeing the small businesses that are the vendors. They are the people we do this for, to give them a platform. I see them sell things, I see people who know what they are doing. I see great master classes where people have been very engaging, asking intelligent questions. So truly, I am very fulfilled.”
Agbaje said he came up with the idea for master classes for children because they are the future. “Children are the future of any society. So we have got to teach them all the right qualities and all the right things they need to know.”
On her part, Mrs. Rebekkah Aikhomu, wife of the former vice president gave kudos to the organizers.
Mrs Aikhomu, who revealed that she sat for Chef Elizabeth Solaru’s Master Class said: “She (Solaru) is the founder of Elizabeth‘s cake emporium. Her parents are our family friends and they are also in attendance at her class.”
Mrs Hope Komolafe, a teacher who has passion for cooking was also at the event and she believes that the experience is one of the best things that ever happened to her.
“I am a teacher professionally but I love cooking a lot. I love adding value and ideas to the things that I do. I love confectionaries and I am a little bit into it. I actually do special bread that is different. When you eat it, you have a feeling that it’s like cake. I must say that the little idea I gathered at the GT master classes have been very useful and I have added it to my business. I was here last year and I enjoyed Chef Raphael’s training a lot. I love the last class by Chef Benedict. His ideas are so good and very creative. I have been using his recipes and they are great”.
Interestingly, Monday was dedicated to the master classes for children. Ijeoma Meme, a year-7 student of Chrisland School, Ikeja, said that she learnt that cooking expresses one’s feeling every time. She added that her teacher taught them how to make sandwich, cookies and pancake.
Tosin Agesi, a JS 2 student of Vivian Fowler Memorial School for girls informed that she learnt how to make cupcakes and different things that make some foods tastier than others. “The class is very entertaining and I gained a lot of things,” Agesi said.
Another young child, Sharon Adeleke, said she learnt how to make chocolate cookies and sandwich. The JSS1 student said she learnt how she could make things for her siblings and her parents.
At the farmers market sellers section, they made brisk business. One of them, Eno Udoh, who is lawyer cum businesswoman said the fair was fantastically great: “We were here last year. It gives you the exposure whereby a lot of people who don’t know where to get the right things come here and find different things, they actually need to help in whatever food business they are doing. A couple of restaurants through this GTB food fair had contacted us and now we are their main supplier.”
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