The relevance of Nigerian cuisines as a unifier of the different ethnic nationalities in the country cannot be over emphasised, taking into consideration the country’s rich food culture and common staple foods which are prepared in different ways by the different ethnic groups.

This became the major focus of the 2018 National Festival of Art and Culture (NAFEST) food fair which examined the two major tubers like cassava tubers and Yam tubers prepared in different ways by all the different ethnic groups.

At the fair, cuisines prepared using these two very important crops dominated the cuisines on display ranging from cassava cakes, chin-chin, cassava flour, pounded yam, fufu, garri, starch and others.

The relevance of these cuisines was elevated to national importance at the fair by the director-general of the National Council for Arts and Culture, (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe.

Otunba Runsewe advocated for greater appreciation of Nigerian food during the Traditional Cuisines Competition held at the Rex Jim-Lawson Cultural Centre in Port Harcourt forming part of several activities lined up at the ongoing 31th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture, NAFEST.
Addressing several states from across Nigeria who participated at the food fare by displaying lots of mouthwatering traditional food, drinks and snacks, Runsewe said the time was right for Nigeria to start exporting her local delicacies to the rest of the world.

He informed Nigerians that the essence of the competition was to celebrate Nigerian food which according to him is richer, healthier and more nourishing than the processed food we import.

Speaking further, the NCAC DG said efforts must now be put in place to ensure better packaging of our indigenous food and snacks for export which will translate to more foreign exchange while improving the local economy and empowering Nigerians.

He commended the states for travelling all the way to Rivers State to showcase their traditional foods for Nigerians to appreciate and savour, noting that the host state has proven to be indeed peaceful as against the falsehood peddled in some quarters that Rivers State is unsafe.

Other key aspects of NAFEST 2018 enjoyed by Nigerians include, waste to wealth skill acquisition, free medical services, traditional wrestling competition, children’s essay writing competition, cultural market, dance drama, boat regatta, tales by moonlight and many more.

The relevance of Nigerian cuisines as a unifier of the different ethnic nationalities in the country cannot be over emphasised, taking into consideration the country’s rich food culture and common staple foods which are prepared in different ways by the different ethnic groups.

This became the major focus of the 2018 National Festival of Art and Culture (NAFEST) food fair which examined the two major tubers like cassava tubers and Yam tubers prepared in different ways by all the different ethnic groups.

At the fair, cuisines prepared using these two very important crops dominated the cuisines on display ranging from cassava cakes, chin-chin, cassava flour, pounded yam, fufu, garri, starch and others.

The relevance of these cuisines was elevated to national importance at the fair by the director-general of the National Council for Arts and Culture, (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe.

Otunba Runsewe advocated for greater appreciation of Nigerian food during the Traditional Cuisines Competition held at the Rex Jim-Lawson Cultural Centre in Port Harcourt forming part of several activities lined up at the ongoing 31th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture, NAFEST.
Addressing several states from across Nigeria who participated at the food fare by displaying lots of mouthwatering traditional food, drinks and snacks, Runsewe said the time was right for Nigeria to start exporting her local delicacies to the rest of the world.

He informed Nigerians that the essence of the competition was to celebrate Nigerian food which according to him is richer, healthier and more nourishing than the processed food we import.

Speaking further, the NCAC DG said efforts must now be put in place to ensure better packaging of our indigenous food and snacks for export which will translate to more foreign exchange while improving the local economy and empowering Nigerians.

He commended the states for travelling all the way to Rivers State to showcase their traditional foods for Nigerians to appreciate and savour, noting that the host state has proven to be indeed peaceful as against the falsehood peddled in some quarters that Rivers State is unsafe.

Other key aspects of NAFEST 2018 enjoyed by Nigerians include, waste to wealth skill acquisition, free medical services, traditional wrestling competition, children’s essay writing competition, cultural market, dance drama, boat regatta, tales by moonlight and many more.