The training, which took place recently at Landmark Event Centre, had in attendance actors across the Nigerian baking value chain, cake lovers within and outside the country who exhibited and showcased their products.
The event with the theme ‘Dewdrops Uncut Learning 2’ had prominent bakers and chefs from within and outside the country such as Tareela Okene, Christopher Okpoko, Kate Ojiugo Onkwena and Tuba Geckil trained the start-ups on various innovative arts of cake making.
“We want to empower the Nigerian baker. To give them a voice by encouraging and training them on new baking skills to help them scale their businesses,” said Ezinne Okonkwo, CEO, Dewdrops Cakes the host of the event.
Okonkwo advised the young bakers to ensure they work towards realising their dreams and ensure quality and standards in their cakes, saying with that, clients will trust their brands.
She said that the cake-baking industry is now getting recognition from the government owing to the jobs the sector is creating.
She called on the government to bridge the huge infrastructural gaps in the country to ensure that small businesses survive and scale.
Nigeria’s baking industry has been experiencing a tremendous increase in demand owing to the rise of its middle class who regularly celebrate event happenings in their lives.
Terry Adido, a cake instructor from Canada, who took the start-ups through a cake demo session, said that cake making is a lucrative business for those that are doing it differently.
He advised the participants to carve a niche for themselves in cake-making by specialising in an aspect of the business. “Each cake artist needs to discover the aspect of cake they can specialise in and not just making all cakes,” he said.
A participant, Bunmi Alabi, founder, Irresistible Cakes, said that the empowerment programme surpassed her expectation.
“Seeing top bakers in the industry put us through various cake recipe demonstration is amazing, and I have learnt a lot in the process,” Alabi said.
“It is worth my every penny I paid for attending and I will not miss the next edition for anything,” she added.
The event was supported by Access Bank Plc and the Lagos State Government. Speaking on behalf of the bank, a staff said “for us in Access bank it is about creativity and innovation and that is why we are fully supporting the DewDrops Uncut Learning 2.”
