Over 10,000 food enthusiasts, photographers, videographers, music artistes, and others across Nigeria will storm Ibadan, the Oyo State capital for the 2024 edition of Ibadan Chop ‘n’ Chill.
The event, scheduled to hold on Sunday, December 1st 2024, at Ibadan Recreation Club, Eleyele will serve as an avenue for local chefs to showcase their skills while positioning Ibadan as a culinary powerhouse within Nigeria’s fast-food industry.
Speaking with newsmen, the convener of the event who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chef Wendy Kitchen, Chef Chinwendu Festus Wendy, said the event was on a mission to create platform for talented chefs to emerge through healthy food cooking competitions where winners will be going home with cash prizes, sponsorship deal into culinary school, empowerment with cooking utensils among other.
According to her, the event will further establish Ibadan as a culinary force to be reckoned with in Nigeria.
She said: “This second edition of Ibadan Chop ‘n’ Chill” promises to be a feast for both the medium and upper classes in the society, as it will offer an irresistible assortment of culinary delights, workshops, competitions, and entertainment.
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“The event will feature an extensive selection of delectable dishes from both local and international cuisines. Indigenous and international chefs will all gather under one roof, ready to delight and entice taste buds. Expert chefs will lead engaging cooking workshops, revealing their culinary styles and demonstrate how effortless it is to craft exceptional dishes.
“It’s understandable the situation we found ourselves in this country today and as youths, we need to take the bull by the horns, our future lies in our hands, we must be able to embrace change, there are always opportunities in difficult situations, that is why my team and I will always work to ensure that we do all we can in our little capacity to assist some youths that have potentials, youths that have burning passion for this culinary business, these among other reasons are our driven force and we are committed to this project towards ensuring it’s sustainability.
“The overwhelming reactions and feedbacks we received just after the first edition of Ibadan Chops ‘n’ Chill in 2023, showed that the event has become a global phenomenon, as international media houses started reaching out to us for special reports on culinary business in Nigeria, I have granted several interviews for both international dailies and magazines, have attended different engagements both within and outside the country, this has not only added to my experience on this job but has also exposed me more and has further renewed my energy to give more to the society through this project, so for now I’m glad to say that Ibadan Chops ‘n’ Chill has become an annual event.
“Ibadan Chops ‘n’ Chill” is a culinary event that started in the year 2023 with the aim of showcasing local talents in culinary businesses, as well as positioning Ibadan City to the world as a culinary powerhouse within Nigeria’s growing fast food industry.
“As of 2023, Ibadan was valued at a staggering N250 billion, which is around $602.5 million by the Association of Fast-Food Confectioners of Nigeria (AFFCON).
“The maiden edition of Ibadan Chops ‘n’ Chill was colourful and successful, as over 5,000 food enthusiasts, photographers, videographers, brand managers and ambassadors, event planners, chefs, food vendors, fun seekers among others graced the event that was held at the Ibadan Polo Club, Eleyele, Ibadan which recorded great success.”