UNESCO launches cooking programme "Teens Can Cook" for youths in Ogun

The Institute for African Culture and International Understanding (IACIU) has launched a cooking programme 'Teens Can Cook' in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, to empower youths in the state with the skills to prepare traditional dishes from major ethnic groups in Nigeria.

According to the Director of the Institute, Prof. Peter Okebukola, the "Teens Can Cook" program was initiated to revolutionize the way African youth perceive and engage with their indigenous food traditions. 

While addressing dozens of participants at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL ), venue of the programme, Okebukola stressed that the initiative sought to impart knowledge about the protection and promotion of indigenous food recipes through the digital environment.

The Professor Emeritus described the programme as an educational endeavor aimed at empowering young Africans with the skills to prepare traditional dishes from the major ethnic groups in Nigeria.

His words "The "Teens Can Cook" programme is set to revolutionize the way African youth perceive and engage with their indigenous food traditions. 

"The primary objective of "Teens Can Cook" is to nurture a new generation of cultural ambassadors who deeply appreciate that African food is not merely a commodity but a powerful vessel of identity, value, and meaning. 

"By leveraging various social media platforms, the program aims to encourage young African youths to become champions of our indigenous food recipes, sharing the rich flavors and stories behind these dishes with a global audience," he added .

Prof. Okebukola disclosed that in the year 2024, the Institute is poised to train over 500 young individuals on the art of preparing diverse African dishes.

"At its core, this initiative seeks to impart knowledge about the protection and promotion of indigenous food recipes through the digital environment.

Okebukola added "This ambitious undertaking is expected to have a profound impact on changing negative stereotypes about African culture, with the hope of inspiring more young people to explore the creative industry as a means of cultural expression and entrepreneurship."