Nigerians have advised parents to teach their children and wards how to cook local foods as the delicacies are healthier and more nutritious than foreign meals.
A cross section of Nigerians gave this advice in Abuja on Wednesday in separate interviews with our correspondent on their favorite delicacies.
Mr Ojo Anthony, the Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory chapter of the Butchers Association of Nigeria, said that some children, and even some house wives and mothers had limited knowledge about their local delicacies.
According to him, it is important for parents to teach their children and wards, especially the females, how to prepare local meals and also imbibe other values.
Anthony, who said that he was an only son out of five children raised by his parents, said his mother did not treat him specially as an only son, adding that she saw him thorough home training.
“That training and other home values have been with me up till now. As you see me I cook native foods like Akpu (fufu), Egusi and Okro soup.
“I also know how to prepare Edikaikong, Afang soups, and Moin-moin with wrapping leaf because that time my mother would always ask me to stay with her in the chicken,” he said.
Miss Patience Jonah said that she usually cooked local delicacies, using original palm oil and local ingredients to make them healthier and more nutritious.
“For instance, in our house, we use original palm oil to prepare soup because my mother said that too much of vegetable oil causes eyes problem.
“So, for me I like to cook rice that is prepared in the local way with palm oil especially white rice and stew,” she said.
Mr Joshua Daniel said that he often assisted his wife to cook all kinds of foods. especially when she was ill or whenever she travelled.
Daniel said that he knew how to cook because while growing up he usually assisted his mother and sisters while they cooked in the kitchen.
“Nowadays, some mothers when they are cooking, their children will be busy doing something else, it will not help them.
“My advice is that mothers should allow their children to assist them in the kitchen, especially female children because it is their duty,” he said.
Meanwhile, Miss Emmanuella Ekezie, said that she had little knowledge on how to cook solid foods such as Akpu and pounded yam.
She said it was because her mother, a banker had no time to prepare them as she was always busy at her work place.
She said that she could only prepare fast foods such as tea and bread as well as fried egg.
Miss Khadijat Garba, an under graduate, said that she had a challenge on how to make use of wrapping leaf for Moin-moin.
“I would have known how to use it to wrap Moin-moin but my mother had no knowledge about it.
“Personally, I prefer moin-moin with the leaf than the ones in pans or plastics. It helps to prevent food poisoning that is why I want to learn how to do it,” she said.
