Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara has pledged continuous support for the Professional Caterers Association (Hospitality), Kwara Chapter, by providing a conducive environment for business and tourism.
Abdulrazaq made the pledge on Thursday in Ilorin during the inauguration of the association and acknowledged the important role of caterers in the promotion of cultural heritage, especially in the area of indigenous cuisine.
The governor was represented by Hajia Mopelola Abdulrahman, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications.
He stated that food played an important role in the citizens’ respective lives, tourism promotion, employment generation as well as its immense contribution to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.
“It may delight the association to note that the state is endowed with so many agricultural products that are processed into different delicacies that we all consume.
“This makes Kwara a destination for food tourism hence the offshoot restaurants, eateries and bukateria across the nooks and crannies of the state,” he said.
Abdulrazaq stated further that the administration had created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive thereby opening up the state’s economy in spite of the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve given top priority to the development of culture and tourism sector in all ramifications in the state as a veritable tool to sustain the diversity of our State.
Earlier in her welcome address, Mrs Aje Olusayo, the President of Professional Caterers Association in the state, said that catering was a career that touched on all classes of living.
She said catering could be practiced widely and it provided huge revenue for the sustenance of life, while a lot of personalities had interest in investing in catering.
Olusayo explained that professional caterers association is a body of learned caterers from certificate holders in catering to doctorate degree level.
According to her, the gathering is the first of its kind in Kwara and the association is hoping to move to national level.
She observed that absence of an association to bring the professionals coverage gave room to poor and unstandardised services which had health implication on our society.
“Catering extends to dietary treatment of many deficiency diseases from childhood to adulthood, such as kwashiorkor (malnutrition), anaemia, hypertension, ulcer and diabetes among others,” she said.
She called for establishment of training schools to standardise services of food in the state and for seminars and annual conferences.
Olusayo also called for registration of members and establishment of secretariat, among others.
In his goodwill message, Mr Olaitan Adefila, the Patron of the association, pointed out the importance of inaugurating the association, adding that humanity was now threatened by diseases such as COVID-19, cancer and diabetes.
He added that professional and scientific handling of catering services could serve both as therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
