Enitan TanimovoThis interview also features the visionary of KidsCook Showdown and director of Dominion Consultancy Concepts. Moyosore adesinaThe reason explains why society should catch children young. Part:
What inspired you to launch KidsCook Showdown and what do you hope kids will gain from the program?
KidsCook Showdown was born from a simple observation: Many children today are growing up with fewer opportunities to learn basic life skills, especially around food, creativity, and responsibility at home. As a result, some children miss out on being practical and knowing what they are capable of.
We have deliberately taken this initiative to nurture children by introducing them to meaningful home skills. Through cooking, they learn responsibility, creativity, self-confidence, communication, leadership and even basic mathematical thinking. At its core, KidsCook Showdown is about unleashing the talents of children at a level when their curiosity and creativity is at its peak. We want to raise children who understand the value of effort, discipline and hard work and who believe in their abilities.
How does KidsCook Showdown align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 4 and SDG 3?
KidsCook Showdown is strongly aligned with SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting practical, experiential learning beyond the classroom. Children learn by doing things through problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity, which reinforces lifelong learning skills. It also supports SDG 3 (good health and well-being) by helping children build a healthy relationship with food. When children participate in cooking, they become more interested in what they eat and become more aware of healthy living. The program encourages positive habits that support both physical and emotional well-being.
How does cooking help children develop essential life skills beyond just learning recipes?
Cooking is a powerful learning tool because it naturally combines many life skills into one activity. Math Skills: Children work with measurements, quantities, counting and fractions while cooking. We've seen kids who struggle with math become more confident when learning numbers in the kitchen.
Confidence: Cooking empowers children to make decisions and take responsibility for the outcomes, building self-confidence which they carry into other areas of life. Leadership and discipline: Cooking teaches time management, organization, focus, and the ability to follow procedures—all foundational leadership and project-management skills. Creativity and communication: Children express ideas, solve problems and learn to work with others. These skills go far beyond the kitchen.
The program targets children aged 6-8 years. Why this age group, and how do you ensure the content is engaging and safe for them?
We believe that the foundation of a child's character and habits is formed very early in life. As the Bible says, “Train up a child the way he should, and when he grows old, he will not depart from it.” Ages 6-8 are the formative years when children are curious, receptive, and eager to learn through play. While children can begin learning simple kitchen tasks even earlier, this age group is ideal for structured, guided learning. Safety is a top priority. All activities are age-appropriate, closely supervised, and on kid-friendly equipment. We emphasize guidance, encouragement and parent involvement.
Parents are encouraged to allay fears, provide supervision, and gradually introduce children to age-appropriate cooking tasks.
How do you see KidsCook Showdown contributing to addressing childhood nutrition and healthy eating habits in Nigeria?
From experience as a parent, I have seen how getting involved in cooking increases a child's interest in food and healthy eating. When children prepare their own meals, they feel a sense of pride and ownership, which naturally encourages better eating habits. KidsCook Showdown helps kids understand food beyond consumption – they begin to appreciate ingredients, balance and nutrition. This early exposure can positively influence how families think about nutrition at home.
What kind of impact do you hope this program will have on the children who participate, and how will you measure success?
From Kidskook Showdown 1.0, we've already seen a clear impact. The children left with improved self-confidence, a stronger sense of responsibility, increased creativity and genuine enthusiasm for learning. Parent feedback showed that children who participated – and even those who watched – became more interested in cooking. Some children who had never stepped into the kitchen before started assisting at home, while others became more consistent and enthusiastic.
We measure success based on feedback from parents, observable behavior changes, levels of engagement, and children's continued interest in applying what they have learned. Ultimately, success means seeing children grow in life skills and confidence.
What message do you have for parents considering enrolling their children in KidsCook Showdown?
My first message to parents is this: Start teaching your kids life skills, especially cooking, early. This is one of the most practical gifts you can give them. The second edition of KidsCook Showdown is coming in Q2 2026, and we're excited to welcome even more kids.
Interested parents can follow @kidscookshowdown on Instagram, X and Facebook for updates and participation details.
How does the show strike a balance between entertainment and education and what can viewers expect from the format?
The show blends challenges, guidance, entertainment and learning in a very natural way. Children learn by playing, experimenting and expressing themselves creatively. Viewers can expect excitement, teamwork, laughter, learning moments and heart-warming conversations – all captured in this kid-friendly cooking competition. At KidsCook Showdown, entertainment is the entry point, but life skills are the takeaway.
What's next for KidsKook Showdown after its launch in Nigeria? Are there plans for expansion or partnerships?
Yes, the long-term vision is to grow KidsCook Showdown into a comprehensive child development platform. We're grateful that the first edition positively impacted over 50 children, and we plan to deepen that impact through partnerships with schools, brands, teachers, and child-focused organizations. In the long term, we also hope to expand further beyond Nigeria.
Our goal is to build a scalable, values-driven initiative that continues to inspire, equip and empower children from diverse communities.
