ABUSRC Cultural Carnival: We Want To Promote Unity, Peaceful Coexistence — President

*ABUSRC Cultural Carnival Kicks Off With Cooking Competition *Students From Different States Showcase Cultural Delicacies At ABU...

*ABUSRC Cultural Carnival Kicks Off With Cooking Competition

*Students From Different States Showcase Cultural Delicacies At ABU

By Ammar M. Rajab 

The Annual Ahmadu Bello University Students Representative Council (ABUSRC) Cultural Carnival has kicked off with a cooking competition featuring students representing different states and cultural backgrounds.

The four-day event, which commenced on Thursday, August 13, 2026, is being held under the theme, “Unity in Diversity: Celebrating Our Heritage, Strengthening Our Future.”

Students representing Adamawa, Bauchi, Imo, Edo, Nasarawa, Kwara, Jigawa, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Abuja, Plateau, among others, participated in the cooking competition, showcasing traditional dishes and culinary practices associated with their respective cultures.

A panel of judges was invited to assess the competitors based on their performances. Among the judges was Chef Amor Hadiza Ango, a popular food content creator.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the first day of the carnival, the ABUSRC President, Comrade Abdurrahman Halliru Saraki, said the programme was organised to promote social cohesion and peaceful coexistence among students.

According to him, the cooking competition provides students with an opportunity to represent their states and cultures while also learning new skills and competing for cash prizes.

“Today’s event, the cooking competition, students are participating to represent their states, and the winners are going with a lot of cash prizes. This is an opportunity for them to also learn and showcase their talents, and represent their culture and state, and in the end they also have some cash to start business,” Saraki said.

The ABUSRC President also said the cultural carnival was designed to give special recognition to minority cultures and people with special needs.

He said the organisers would provide the necessary assistance to participants with special needs during the programme.

Saraki expressed hope that the carnival would continue to grow in recognition and eventually gain national and international prominence.

“We expected, as usual, this programme is one of its kinds that gains national and international recognition. We pray eventually the programme will be recognised as a national festival like other festivities; the ABU programme will also be recognised,” he said.

He further highlighted the social and educational impact of the carnival, noting that the activities allow students to learn about different cultures, food and entrepreneurial opportunities.

According to him, the programme will continue with a trade fair on Friday, where entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to showcase and sell their products, while the main cultural carnival will take place on Saturday.

“Today’s cooking competition, people are learning from others on how to cook different varieties of dishes from different cultures. Tomorrow we have a trade fair, entrepreneurs can showcase their businesses and sell what they bring. When the cultural carnival takes place on Saturday, people will also learn about the culture of others,” Saraki added.

Participants Commend Initiative

Several participants interviewed by DAILY STRUGGLE expressed appreciation for the initiative, describing it as a platform for promoting unity, cultural awareness and stronger relationships among students from different parts of the country.

Muhammad Jamila Amir, a student from Nasarawa State who represented her state at the event, expressed delight over the programme and encouraged the organisers to sustain it.

She said the carnival was creating awareness and providing students with an opportunity to discover connections with people from different parts of the country.

“It creates awareness. Through these cultural activities, we are able to meet some of our people. Some we are even related by blood, while some we came from the same place,” she said.

Similarly, Saleh Fatima, representing Hausa culture from Jigawa State, said the event had exposed her to different traditional delicacies she had never encountered before.

“The event has social impact, because I learned some cultural delicacies. I have not heard of some delicacies, but today I did. They are amazing,” Fatima said.

Also speaking, Alma Precious Chikwado from Imo State, who represented Igbo culture, said the carnival was helping to build relationships among students from different states while encouraging them to learn about one another’s cultural practices.

“It helps in bringing relationships between each state and each local dish we meet every day. The event helps us to learn from other cultures, their cultural food and how they do it,” she said.

The ABUSRC Annual Cultural Carnival continues on Friday with a trade fair, while the main cultural carnival is scheduled to take place on Saturday.