HoS says 1st Abuja Easter Food Festival will promote unity, cultural heritage

Joseph Inokotong, Abuja

The Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, on Monday said that `Abuja Easter Festival’ had the potential to promote unity and command respect among Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage.

Oyo-Ita said this while declaring the first edition of the festival open at the Eagles Square, Abuja.

The festival, organised by Women Food Sellers Association of Nigeria in collaboration with Travel Market Partners would be an annual event.

She commended the organisers for embarking on the initiative to project the Nigerian cuisines to suit the needs of the Nigerian workforce.

“We have consistently demonstrated this administration’s commitment to the well-being and productivity of the Nigerian workforce, which aligns with the objective of your organisation in promoting local cuisines.

“It is important to note that this festival will provide the much-needed platform for showcasing our rich culinary heritage and the exciting future for our food industry.

“I hereby declare the 2019 Abuja Easter Food Festival open,’’ she declared.

Oyo-Ita was represented at the event by Mr. Ajagbe Salami, the Director, Civil Service Inspectorate in the Office of the Head of Service.

Earlier, National President, Women Food Sellers Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Funke Tetteh, said the association hosted the event to drive home the importance of food in the lives of Nigerians.

She said that the festival was also to underscore its importance to healthy living and productivity in the workplace.

“As food sellers feeding the federal workforce, it is our duty to serve good and nutritious food that will help our customers to achieve good health and be productive in their offices.

“The food we serve here at the Federal Secretariat is wholesome, similar to home cooking. We understand what it means for the health of our customers.

“In realisation of the above, we have decided to stage this event to highlight the need to promote Nigerian cuisines and good organic food as against foreign food.

“We wish to further encourage our immediate customers including civil servants on the need to patronise Nigerian dishes,’’ Tetteh said.

Hajiya Haminat Isah, who represented the Managing Director of Bank of Industry (BOI) said that the bank was willing to give loans to interested farmers that willing to go into agriculture.

The event attracted officials from Ministry of Women Affairs, Women Development Centre, Leventis Foundation and other relevant stakeholders.