Food is more than survival — it’s culture, creativity, and a powerful source of income. That’s why the Culinary Arts Training under the 9jafoodfiesta Empowerment Program in Katsina was one of the most vibrant and skill-rich training in the one-month skill empowerment program journey.
As part of its bold mission to train 2,000 youths, women, and persons with disabilities across all 36 states in Nigeria — with a total impact goal of over 72,000 lives — 9jafoodfiesta, in partnership with the Katsina State Ministry of Women Affairs, led by Honourable Commissioner Hajiya Hadiza Yar’adua, delivered this training to help participants turn their cooking passion into sustainable livelihoods.
The training took place in two phases:
- The first three weeks were held at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic.
- The final week concluded at IDC KASEDA, Tudun Matawalle.
Classes held every Saturday and Sunday, ensuring accessibility while maintaining consistency in skill-building. Participants explored three core modules that blended local tradition with entrepreneurial insight:
🔪 1. Local & Continental Dishes
- How to cook staple meals like jollof rice, spaghetti, and native soups
- Practical plating and food presentation
- Understanding spice balancing and flavor control
🎂 2. Baking Basics
- Doughnut, Fish rolls, buns and chin-chin
- Measuring ingredients, oven settings, and pastry handling
- Food safety during baking and storage
🍽 3. Catering & Kitchen Setup
- Planning and preparing meals for small events
- Maintaining hygiene and safe food packaging
- Cost control, menu pricing, and delivering customer satisfaction
- Basics of starting a small-scale catering business
This was more than just learning how to cook — it was about unlocking potential and laying a foundation for entrepreneurship. The kitchen became a classroom, and every dish a stepping stone to financial independence.
Now that the training is complete, participants are excitedly looking forward to:
- Their certificates
- The upcoming closing ceremony
- And hopefully, start-up support from the Katsina State Government to launch their culinary journeys — such as ovens, utensils, or capital for ingredients.
The Culinary Arts Training empowered its participants with more than just recipes — it gave them hope, confidence, and a path to self-reliance.
Stay with us as we continue to share more powerful highlights from the 9jafoodfiesta Empowerment Program in Katsina — where skills are transforming lives, one state at a time.
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