By Uriel Ihotu
GUNINGORA, KADUNA STATE — Secondary school students of All Success Academy, Guningora, Kaduna State, have received hands-on training in shawarma and burger-making under the Renewed Mind for Renewed Hope Initiative, a youth-focused programme promoting practical skills, discipline and self-development.
The training exposed the students to basic culinary techniques while encouraging them to see vocational skills as potential pathways to self-reliance and future income generation.
The initiative, which organisers said was inspired by the vision of Seyi Tinubu, is built around the idea that developing young people requires not only academic knowledge but also character, responsibility, practical skills and a positive mindset.
Speaking during the programme, Project Coordinator Victor Yusuf said the initiative was designed to encourage young people to develop a renewed mindset, noting that positive change begins with individuals and their homes.
The students were trained by Chef Tayo, who demonstrated the different stages involved in preparing shawarma and burgers, including food preparation, seasoning, grilling, assembly and presentation.
The practical session allowed the students to observe the cooking process before taking turns to participate directly.
The training also featured a friendly cooking competition, with students divided into teams for the burger and shawarma categories.
Riches Enokela and Pindar Hyelkuzuku represented the burger category, while Patricia Patrick and Michael Christopher participated in the shawarma challenge. They were supported by kitchen assistants Halimatu Sadia Dende and David Christopher.
At the end of the exercise, the meals prepared by the students were shared among students, school staff and guests.
Several students who participated in the programme described the experience as valuable, highlighting lessons in kitchen hygiene, patience, consistency and practical entrepreneurship.
One participant said the training had taught them the importance of maintaining hygiene while working with food and being patient enough to achieve consistent results.
Another student said the skill could become a source of income after secondary school, particularly as a side business.
Another participant described the programme as a first-of-its-kind experience for the school and expressed appreciation for the opportunity.
The school community also participated in the event. Rehila Christopher, wife of the school director, spoke about the programme’s potential impact on the students, while community elder and Mai Angwan Galadima, Yakubu Audu, was present to support the initiative.
The students also received branded T-shirts and caps, while food packaging and distribution formed part of the practical activities.
Organisers said the culinary training was part of a broader Renewed Mind for Renewed Hope programme aimed at exposing young people to practical skills while reinforcing messages around discipline, responsibility, self-worth and purposeful living.
For the students of All Success Academy, the exercise provided more than an opportunity to learn how to prepare popular meals. It offered them practical exposure to a skill they could potentially develop into a livelihood while still pursuing their education.
