Meet Hadiza Yakubu, the Woman on a Mission to Elevate Women’s Cooking During Ramadan

Hadiza Yakubu Wanka

1. Can you tell us about your background and how you became interested in cooking and teaching others how to cook?

I’m my mother’s only Girl and also her last born. Cooking is a hobby that I inherited from my mother because she is a great cook, and I have also learnt from her the act of impacting positively the lives of other people. So I decided to perfect my cooking skills by learning from my mother and participating in some Online Cookery Courses.

2. Why do you believe that sharing food recipes is a form of empowerment, particularly for women during Ramadan?

Being a northern woman living in northern Nigeria, I have a whole lot to say in regard to the challenges which a large number of women a Being faced. A lot of women are going through depression because they can’t solve their personal financial needs/wants. As a food vendor, I also realised that most of my customers are women, some buy for their own enjoyment but the majority buy my food in order to serve their husbands as their own homemade delicacies. Ramadan is a very blessed month, I have decided to empower women by sharing my unique recipes so that they can earn rewards and also make some cool Cash. Most people give out food for sadaka, they also crave new recipes aside from the regular ones that are being prepared on a daily basis in their homes. So It’s a perfect opportunity for women to grab and have access to financial freedom by preparing mouthwatering/delicious delicacies and selling to customers without necessarily stepping out of their homes.

3. How do you plan to structure your classes or workshops? Will they be in-person or virtual?

I intend to run in-person and virtual classes. But for now, it’s strictly a virtual workshop.

4. What kinds of recipes do you plan to share with your students? Will they be traditional dishes, or will you be putting your own spin on them?

The recipes are traditional but with a Spin.

5. How do you plan to adapt your recipes to accommodate various dietary restrictions or preferences?

Well, I’m glad to say that I achieve very delicious delicacies without adding Salt at all in all my cooking. I also make use of palm oil in almost all my traditional Soups, and for other dishes that require vegetable oil, I make sure I apply it with moderation. Most people avoid beef as a source of protein, so I make the most use of other protein sources such as fish, chicken, Goat Meat, Snails and Seafood to prepare my delicacies. Those customers that happen to have some sort of health challenge feel absolutely comfortable and safe eating all my meals. My recipes are absolutely healthy and very delicious.

6. What outcomes are you hoping to achieve for your students?

My classes being virtual, I have taken it upon myself to do whatever it takes to produce a step-by-step, easy, virtual practical course for my students   My dream/Wish is for every Abata Foods Student to become a Pro in the kitchen after undergoing any of our workshops either virtual or in-person.

7. Can you tell us about a particularly meaningful experience you’ve had teaching others how to cook?

Well, it’s always an interesting journey/experience having to train/teach others how to cook because it is an inbuilt passion for me. Although a few of my students feel cooking is not an easy task, they end up realising that it’s actually a very interesting and fun thing to do. And that’s because I try so well to let teach you all the tricks/magic in achieving unique, healthy and delicious meals.

8. How will you ensure that your classes or workshops are inclusive and welcoming to women of all backgrounds and skill levels?

I love this question, Masha Allah! I still have a lot of people reaching out to me and asking if I’m a Muslim or a full northerner. Because I perfectly prepare delicacies that cut across many ethnic groups in Nigeria, such as Afang Soup, Efo-riro, Edikaikong, Eguisi Soup, Oha Soup, Fisherman Soup, etc. So being a Nigerian is a blessing to me and I have decided to leverage that by knowing how to prepare so many Nigerian traditional recipes. I didn’t limit myself to that, I have also perfected my culinary skills on the continental dishes.

9. What advice do you have for women who are interested in learning how to cook, but feel intimidated or unsure of where to start?

My constant advice not just to women but to anyone that has an interest in learning how to cook or any other Skill is to please take action by undergoing virtual or in-person classes, getting a mentor and then taking the proper action of practising till one can do it like a Pro. Because we all know that practice makes perfect.

10. Finally, what are your long-term goals for this project? How do you hope to see it grow and evolve in the future?

I’m actually working towards achieving an international Standard Culinary Academy and also to be able to produce above a large number of certified chefs, restaurateurs and foodpreneurs.

1 Comment

  • Raymond sixtus March 15, 2023

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