Enitan Tanimowo, the visioneer of KidsCook Showdown, and also the director, Dominion Consultancy Concepts, in this interview with Moyosore Adesina, gives reasons why the society should catch the children while still young. Excerpt:
What inspired you to launch KidsCook Showdown, and what do you hope children 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 hands-on and discovering what they are capable of doing.
We created this initiative to intentionally nurture children by exposing them early to meaningful household skills. Through cooking, they learn responsibility, creativity, confidence, communication, leadership, and even basic mathematical thinking. At its core, KidsCook Showdown is about unlocking children’s talents at a stage when their curiosity and creativity are at their peak. We want to raise children who understand the value of effort, discipline, and hard work, and who believe in their own abilities.
How does KidsCook Showdown align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 4 and SDG 3?
KidsCook Showdown aligns strongly 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 more conscious of healthy living. The program encourages positive habits that support both physical and emotional well-being.
In what ways 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 in one activity. Mathematics skills: Children work with measurements, quantities, counting, and fractions while cooking. We’ve seen children who struggle with maths become more confident when learning numbers in the kitchen.
Confidence: Cooking empowers children to make decisions and take responsibility for outcomes, which builds self-belief they carry into other areas of life. Leadership and discipline: Cooking teaches time management, organisation, focus, and the ability to follow processes — 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 kids aged 6–8. Why this age group, and how do you ensure the content is engaging and safe for them?
We believe the foundation of a child’s character and habits is formed very early in life. As the Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Ages 6–8 are 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 designed with child-friendly tools. We emphasise guidance, encouragement, and parental involvement.
Parents are encouraged to remove fear, 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 involvement in cooking increases a child’s interest in food and healthy eating. When children prepare meals themselves, they feel a sense of pride and ownership, which naturally encourages better eating habits. KidsCook Showdown helps children understand food beyond consumption — they begin to appreciate ingredients, balance, and nourishment. This early exposure can positively influence how families approach nutrition at home.
What kind of impact do you anticipate this program having on participating children, and how will you measure success?
From KidsCook Showdown 1.0, we already saw visible impact. Children left with improved confidence, a stronger sense of responsibility, increased creativity, and genuine excitement about learning. Feedback from parents 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 began assisting at home, while others became more consistent and enthusiastic.
We measure success through feedback from parents, observable behavioral changes, engagement levels, and the sustained interest children show in applying what they’ve learned. Ultimately, success means seeing children grow in life skills and confidence.
What message do you have for parents considering enrolling their kids in KidsCook Showdown?
My first message to parents is this: start teaching your children life skills early, especially cooking. It 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 children.
Interested parents can follow @kidscookshowdown on Instagram, X, and Facebook for updates and participation details.
How does the show balance fun and education, and what can viewers expect from the format?
The show blends challenges, guidance, fun, and learning in a very natural way. Children learn while playing, experimenting, and expressing themselves creatively. Viewers can expect excitement, teamwork, laughter, learning moments, and heartwarming interactions — all wrapped into a child-friendly cooking competition. At KidsCook Showdown, fun is the entry point, but life skills are the takeaway.
What is next for KidsCook Showdown after the launch in Nigeria? Are there plans for expansion or partnerships?
Yes, the long-term vision is to grow KidsCook Showdown into a broader child development platform. We are grateful that the first edition positively impacted over 50 children, and we plan to deepen that impact through partnerships with schools, brands, educators, and child-focused organisations. In the long run, we also hope to expand beyond Nigeria.
Our goal is to build a scalable, values-driven initiative that continues to inspire, equip, and empower children across different communities.