ASEAN Ladies Circle Display Tasty Cultural Cuisine as They Celebrate International Women’s Day in Abuja

Oru Leonard/ Maryam Aminu

As the women’s month comes to an end, the Association of South East Asian  Nation (ASEAN), Ladies Circle Abuja organised a feast to have ‘the Taste of ASEAN Food in the spirit of celebrating International Women’s Day 2022, held at Indonesian Embassy Residence on 30th March, 2020.

Women across East Asia are helping to lead their people through the current global crisis and are creating a better future for us all in a COVID-19 world.

In her welcome address, the host, spouse of the Ambassador of Indonesia who doubled as the Chairwoman of ASEAN Ladies Circle Abuja, Mrs Nenny Herahap, welcomed and thanked the ASEAN Ladies Circle for their hard work and cooperation in materializing the lovely event.

She noted that the program was put on hold for some time due to the Covid-19 pandemic which enveloped not only Nigeria but all over the world but thankfully the pandemic has been minimized.

Mrs Harahap explained Asian Cuisine that includes several major regional cuisines: Central Asian, East Asian, North Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and West Asian.

Southeast Asia consist of: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, and Laos.

Mrs. Nenny further explained that cuisine is a characteristic style of cooking practices and traditions, usually associated with a specific culture. Asia, being the largest and most populous continent, is home to many cultures, many of which have their own characteristic cuisine.

Southeast Asia is a diverse and fascinating cultural crossroads that forms both a geographic and a culinary link between Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Food can be sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and bitter all in the same bite.

Although the foods of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma (Myanmar), Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia share core similarities, there are also significant regional differences. While Indonesian food, for example, is often characterized as savory, hot, and spicy, Thai food is often sweet and spicy, Vietnamese food is considered light and refreshing and Filipino cuisine is heavy in comparison.

Most of Southeast Asian meals are served “family style,” rather than as a series of courses. All dishes are set on the table and guests are encouraged to take a little bit of everything.

She added that the ideal Southeast Asian meal is made up of mostly vegetables, rice and broth, with a little protein to add a rich flavour quality.

Speaking also, H.E. Gloria Tiwet
High Commissioner of Malaysia to Nigeria extended her congratulations to Mrs Nenny Harahap, Chairwoman of the ASEAN Ladies Circle, Abuja and her dedicated team of all beautiful and hardworking members of the ASEAN Ladies Circle from the embassies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam for organising this first ever event under the ASEAN Committee at Abuja, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic.

She also appreciated His Excellency Dr. Usra Harahap, Ambassador of Indonesia and Chairman of the ASEAN Committee at Abuja for hosting them at his beautiful residence for the programme “Taste of ASEAN Food”

H.E Gloria made known that the programme is portrayal of us in solidarity, the ASEAN Family at Abuja, Nigeria celebrating in our “ASEAN Way” of hospitality through, wonderful tasty and unique flavours of our ASEAN food.

She urged guests to savour all the food especially home-cooked for you.

There are a total of five (5) South-East Asian Nations in short “ASEAN” embassies at Abuja. Nigeria. The “ASEAN Committee at Abuja” or referred to as, ACA, comprise of embassies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Every six (6) months, each ambassador of the ACA will take turn as Chairman of the ACA. Current Chairman of the ACA is His Excellency Ambassador of Indonesia. He succeeded from His Excellency Ambassador of Vietnam, she stated.

There are two lady ASEAN ambassadors, myself and Her Excellency Ambassador of the Philippines. Being lady ambassadors, we are also Chairwoman of our respective Ladies Association of the embassy, she disclosed.

She notified that ASEAN countries enjoy close and cordial relations with Nigeria, at all levels of Government to Government, Business to Business and People to People. We enjoy close and good relations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and all the Government Agencies that we are engaged with.

In her words, H.E Gloria added
“Just to share on statistics, while we are all affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, ASEAN total trade with Nigeria remain strong and showed growth. In 2019, total trade was at US Dollars 5.09 billion, in the year 2020 total trade was US Dollars 4.68 billion and in 2021 increased to US Dollars 5.54 billion. We continue to working together with the Government of Nigeria and the business community for continuous increased in our total trade relations”.

H.E Tiwet congratulated all the Women present, especially Women of Nigeria for their dedication, hardworking and spirit of entrepreneurship and wished them continued success.

In his melodious voice, His Excellency Dr. Usra Herahap, Ambassador of Indonesia and Chairman of the ASEAN Committee Abuja entertained the women with Asian musics