Mrs Sophy Mbanisi, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, made this known at the cooking competition exercise organised by the two bodies in commemoration of the 2024 International Widows Day (IWD) on Saturday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IWD is celebrated annually on June 23 to explore some of the issues affecting widows around the world and what must be done to safeguard and advance their rights.
Mbanisi explained that the Foundation moved the IWD celebration to Saturday to enable it accommodate its monthly meeting, usually held on the last week of every month.
She said that the programme, which had became an annual event since its first edition in 2023, would run from the zonal level to the state and national level by the foundation.
Speaking on the objectives behind the project, Mbanisi said the programme aimed at challenging widows to achieve more in life to be able to fend for their families.
She added that the major objective of the programme was to empower widows with healthy cooking skills that would enable them sustain living despite the demise of their spouses.
According to her, many of the widows have a lot of hidden dreams that are lying dormant in them.
She said, “The cooking competition project, which started in 2023, is in partnership with Ajinomoto Foods Nigeria Ltd., who is the sole and major sponsor.
“It was conducted among the Foundation’s widows in its first edition last year, but this year, we are able to compete with another Foundation – the Ebere Otigba Foundation, Ajao Estate Lagos.
“The fact remains that many of these widows have a lot of hidden dreams and talents that are just lying unexplored in them.
“We want to see how we can revive some of their dreams and aspirations that were abandoned when their husbands died.
“So, we want to bring this healthy cooking competition among them because it will spur many of them that are good cooks and some of them that have the aspiration to run good restaurants or work as cooks in organisations.
“It will equally spur other widows that are out there to know that they can do more, even beyond cooking, to sustain themselves and their families after the demise of their husbands.’’
According to her, all the widows that participated in the programme went home with tangible gifts, adding that all the contestants in the cooking competition were given remarkable prizes to help them enhance their livelihood and businesses.
Speaking, Mrs Francisca Ikediashi, Corporate Communications Manager, Ajinomoto Foods Nig Ltd., said that the cooking competition aimed at adding value and enhancing the skills of the widows.
Ikediashi described the project as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, through which it gave back to the society.
She said that the company collaborated with the Healing Heart Foundation to share values with widows and other vulnerable in the society.
“Competition is the spice of life; that your husband is dead is not the end of life. As a widow, don’t be limited, you got a lot of potential in you; keep pushing until something happens.
“From the competition today, there are great cooks. So, what is limiting you; stand up and start doing something for your future and those of your children.
“There is joy in winning. The first prize winner got a 120litre refrigerator, which can help her if she wants to do any cold business.
“The second prize winner got a set of big cooking pot; she can start a cooking business with that and others were all given beautiful gifts – coolers and the likes.
“Learn to be empowered; whatever thing you have, manage it well and start doing something,” Ikediashi urged.
The President, Lagos State Caterers and Decorators Association, Mrs Olajumoke Abraham-Agbelusi, described the cooking competition as a ‘beautiful one’, as the contestants properly used the Ajinomoto seasonings to enhance the taste of their meals.
Abraham-Agbelusi, also the competition’s Chief Judge, said there was no excessive usage of the seasoning in the meals, that might cause any individual constipation, vomiting or stooling.
According to her, excessive usage of the Ajinomoto seasonings remains the reason why some people may complain about the taste of Ajinomoto seasonings.
“The reason some people complain about the taste of Ajinomoto seasonings is because they don’t know the right quantity to use at a given time.
“But, when a cook put the right quantity for the right recipe, you will know that Ajinomoto seasoning is a good product.
“Women cook in diverse ways, but, in the cooking competition, the contestants are able to use the seasoning in a right proportion to give a unique taste to the meals,” she said.
Mrs Onyekachi Imo, Winner of the cooking competition, appreciated the two bodies for organising the programme, saying it had enhanced her cooking skills.
According to her, the refrigerator prize she received will not only boost her living standard, but also enhance her business. (NAN)
