Creative Industry

Published

2 years ago

September 21, 2023

KCCN Intensify Efforts To Impact More Nigerians Through Cooking

By Joel Ajayi

Empowerment and training of human beings, no doubt, remain the spine behind the sustenance of any development in the world. This is the story of the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria KCCN, who over the years, increased efforts to ensure many Nigerians are empowered through different endeavors in life.

The Center has given thousands of Nigerians leverage in arts, culture, entertainment, language education, creativity, and sports and recently added another sector, which is cooking class.

KCCN was established in 2010 in Nigeria’s Capital Territory, Abuja to enhance friendship, bilateral relations, and understanding between Korea and Nigeria through cultural and educational programs, and today, the center is making thoughtful progress.

On Tuesday in the FCT, another batch of selected members of the Association of Professional Chefs in Nigeria (APCN) were on the ground to learn more about Korean cuisine and how to prepare two of the country’s most popular dishes.

Indeed, it was another great experience for Nigerian Chefs who chose cooking as their career, as they had more knowledge about continental dishes, the Korean food that is believed will go a long way to promote and advance them in the inter-continental dishes know-how.

One of the first dishes they cooked was Spicy Braised Chicken and Com Cheese

In his remarks, shortly after the demonstration of the Chuseok cooking class, the representative of the Director of KCCN, Manager Of Cultural Content, Bae Sung Jin said the essence of the cooking class is to sensitize many Nigerian people about Korean food and to give opportunity to some who want to choose Korean food.

According to him, we are doing a lot of classes in Nigeria, not only cooking classes, but we also have K-POP Dance, Taekwondo, and language classes, among others.

“There is no Korean restaurant in Abuja, and Abuja is technically the capital of Africa, people want to try Korean food. That is what gave birth to this cooking class, to introduce our foods to the Nigerian people as well as empower them.

“We are trying to reach out to many Nigerians, which is why we choose members of the Association of Professional Chefs in Nigeria, and without a doubt, I do believe it will have an impact on their lives.” He said.

Speaking also was a staff of KCCN, Sharon Pwavi-Babale said, it’s the continuation of the effort of the center to expose Nigerians to Korean food.

“The reason, if noticed, Asian food which is popular in Nigeria is Chinese food and KCCN saw it as an opportunity, being the fact that a large number of people watch Korean movies, many Nigerians see Korean food through movies and desire to eat it.

“So, we ensure the cooking class is put in place as a means of introducing Nigerians to Korean dishes’ method of cooking and its richness.

However, Chuseok translates to autumn eve and is, at its core, a harvest moon festival nodding back to Korea’s traditional agrarian roots where traditional foods make their way onto every family’s table, and the infamous bumper-to-bumper traffic that plagues the country’s major roads in the lead-up to the long holiday, as people make the pilgrimage back to their hometowns to honour familial ancestors.

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Creative Industry

REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 1ST OF OCTOBER

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

By Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa

Remember, remember, the last day of September. It ushers the dawn of the 1st of October. Independence Galore for each person, each member, Nigeria is still populated with ginormous ember.

O Nigeria is 65, we agree to guarantee, The flag of the country, the flag of the free. O Nigeria thine 65, I submit verily, My soul and my spirit. I submit to thee…me!

Atop six and half-century yore, a nation was born. In the midst of the West-Coast of Africa’s Horne. This nation had riches, from millet to corn, With timber and coal, and black gold of its own. Its fortune was plenty; its promise was grown, Its people were filled with such hope; yet forlorn! Even when this wee nation was tired and warn, Beauty, goodness and grace would always adorn,Her face and her lawn, each night and each morn.

Those who saw her birth took an oath and had sworn, To advance her great throne; protect her from the storm. Not long from that form, her great fortune was blown, When the Nigerian land became one combat zone.

The Civil War was a thorn. Nigeria’s unity was torn, ‘No Victor, No Vanquished,’ yet the nation did mourn. But after the conflict, the Peace-Flag was flown, Though our country descended to a corruption filled zone.

Some pilfered, groaned, moaned and their virtues were shorn. We resorted to chaos and then our rise became warn. But of all the carnage, what we must not condone, Is the divide of religions and ethnicity scorn.

For what is this nation, where will we be thrown, If Nigeria divided and we each went alone?

At this time, we are 65; “Folks now we must atone!” Thank God for our fortunes, and we may be reborn.

Almighty’s plan for this country, to us, is unknown. But He gave us this nation to each call our own.

Our own is Nigeria… Nigeria’s our home.

Remember, remember, the last day of September. It ushers the dawn of the 1st of October.

Independence Galore for each person, each member, Nigeria is still populated with ginormous ember.

O Nigeria is 65, we agree to guarantee,

The flag of the country, the flag of the free. O Nigeria thine 65, I submit verily, My soul and my spirit. I submit to thee…me!

Our profane must retain much pain and disdain. The grand tale of Africa’s urbane terrain. When we began our great reign, we had much to attain. But the inane of our journey became a constrain.

Again and again all in this country’s domain Would entertain our interest to compromise the main.

Nigerians had no restrain to feign our legerdemain. Through much strain and arraign, the nation we’d drain By using our internal crane on our jugular vein. By leaving our country with an abysmal stain.

The grain of our fortune, alas, has been slain, The bane of our substance doth suffer in vain. The Nigerian spirit must maintain our restrain, To regain back our right, to break free from the chain. We must sustain our humane and use our brain, To win back Nigeria from a life of insane.

This country is filled with much natural gain, We each have a right for that gain to obtain.

As long as we contain an intention germane, This country will rise to the mightiest plane.

May our canker and grime be washed by the rain. May our country be focused on a righteous lane.

My homeland is sacred, and I must explain, My love for Nigeria runs right through my vein. As I write down these words, Oh, this is my campaign, For this nation to always regain its brilliant mien.

Remember, remember, the last day of September. It ushers the dawn of the 1st of October.

Independence Galore for each person, each member, Nigeria is still populated with ginormous ember.

O Nigeria is 65, we agree to guarantee, The flag of the country, the flag of the free. O Nigeria thine 65, I submit verily, My soul and my spirit. I submit to thee…me!

‘Tis an ode of our independence that came with a fee; The tale of a nation that begged to be free.

My heavy heart; Oh Verily! Nigeria, thy never on bended knee! Awo, Zik and Sardauna made a fortress for thee. Balewa he stood, as did Macauley. To make Ye as brave as Ye can be. But thy Babylon-Beasts laid snares for thee, And spread their nets with cords of glee.

There´s a storm in the affairs of man, If taken at its stride, it can, And leads thee into deepest sea! For those of We who toiled for thee, We pray to see thee always free. Freedom from corruption is thy only key.

Even rebellion is an effort to set thee free. We, protégé, must continue to give to thee,

In the path of those who doth walk for Ye. Some have followed and some doth lead for we,

To unite this great nation inclusivly and happily. For our common good we traverse with glee, To turn our vast diversity into unity.

Continue lifting our nation for all to see, But the task ahead will be very heavy. Now forge forth, struggle and win for thee, Your unending great quest for liberty. Nigeria, ye off thy bended knee.

Remember, remember, the last day of September. It ushers the dawn of the 1st of October.

Independence Galore for each person, each member, Nigeria is still populated with ginormous ember. O Nigeria is 65, we agree to guarantee, The flag of the country, the flag of the free. O Nigeria thine 65, I submit verily, My soul and my spirit. I submit to thee…me!

Whatever will happen we must look up to God, He giveth and taketh with merely a nod!

We must increase faith, boost our love and our fear, Be sincere and revere and adhere to persevere.

We must believe in this nation and love it unconditionally. Keep our ethos, our culture and our virtues traditionally. Nigeria is beautiful, our homeland is glorious;

She’s known internationally as somewhat notorious. Her children are maimed as rather inglorious, But for 6 and half decades she has been laborious. And with help from above, she can be meritorious. So our nation can rise and, at last, be victorious. Motherland, I gift you this Word-Rhyming-Flower, Signed, sealed and delivered by Hanney Musawa.

On this fateful day I do wish you all well. From the tone of my ode, I hope you can tell. My wish for my nation is Goodness-Attendance.

To every Nigerian… HAPPY INDEPENDENCE!

Written Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa

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