The Honourable Okey Joe Foundation (HOJ), in collaboration with Power Oil Company, has flagged off a cooking competition that would bring about innovation and creativity in cooking titled “Spice it up Lagos Cooking Competition, Season 2.”
The cooking competition was unveiled during a flag-off ceremony held at the foundation office in Ejigbo, Lagos State
The competition would be an outfall bringing cultural device, honouring traditions and igniting innovations where amateur chefs and upcoming cooks would showcase their unique styles, techniques, and flair by encouraging creativity, experimentation and being empowered.
In his remarks, the Executive Director, Honourable Okey Joe Foundation, Mazi lkechukwu Birsmack Orji, stated that the competition, which is in partnership with Power Oil Company, and also the second edition would be a mind blowing competition as new talents would be discovered and empowered.
Mazi Orji, however, states that the competition aimed at a culinary platform for young chefs to showcase their talent because healthy food is a healthy life.
He said: “The main aim of Spice It Up Lagos cooking competition, aside from engaging young culinary enthusiasts and food lovers, is to showcase Lagos as a transformative state when it comes to experiences around food. We seem to have more affinity for just getting our foods inside our kitchen without understanding the logistics that go into the production side of things.”
He said that all participants would be adequately compensated with consolation prizes, noting that the idea of the competition aimed at encouraging unity among all the various ethnicities and tribes with their various cooking skills and dishes in Lagos as the melting point of diversification in the country.
The Chairman Committee of Spice It Up Lagos Season 2, Comrade Bolaji Belinda Bayode, noted that the competition would bring together talented chefs from diverse backgrounds that would bring about culinary excellence, creativity and passion.
She explained that the competition would not just be for cooking but about a healthy lifestyle because individuals lose their lives due to what they eat and the kind of spices that are being used in cooking.
Comrade Bayode highlighted the terms and conditions, while urging the contestants to follow the rules guiding the competition, as they are free to cook any local meal of their choice using their skills while cooking.
Speaking to newsmen, the Programme Director, Women and Health for Honourable Okey Joe Foundation, Mrs. Uchenna Ofomata, stated that the registration would be done online, including the preliminary contest, which is meant for both male and female of 20 to 40 years of age for the entire Lagos state.
Ofomata said that the competition aimed at commemorating World Food Day, which comes up every 16th of October.
She said: “Last year the competition was only for Oshodi/lsolo 2 State Constituency and that was our first edition and this year we are having it with power oil company, Our mission in HOJ Foundation revolves around promoting preliminary excellence, fostering creativity and building community engagement.”
She noted that the essence of the competition aimed at empowering amateur chefs so as to showcase their unique style technique and flair by encouraging creativity because the foundation helped them to foster their innovative recipes, celebrate diverse flavours, and develop entrepreneurship leaders so as to celebrate the universe of language of food to uncover hidden talents.
Lending his voice, Admin Officer, Mazi Chuks Nwosu, the Special Adviser to the Honourable Member representing Oshodi/lsolo State Constituency 2 at the National Assembly on Media and Communication, noted that the competition would harness the efforts of both the old and new chefs in showcasing their skills and discovering new talents, as the competition would showcase the cooking skills of different chefs who reside in Lagos, noting that various cultural dishes would be displayed to the delight of residents.
Mazi Nwosu said: “The Spice It Up Lagos, Cooking Competition Season 2, organised by the HOJ Foundation in conjunction with Power Oil, would encourage new talents, develop new entrepreneurs, and at the end of the competition, the beneficiaries would go home with mouthwatering gifts that would boost up their businesses.”
“The competitors are cooking for healthy living, they are competing, and they are showcasing their skills; with this, so many talents would be discovered. Let me seize this opportunity to thank Honourable Okey Joe Onuakalusi for such initiative and empowering the young entrepreneurs, also thanking the sponsors, Power Oil, for this year’s competition while looking forward to 3.0,” he stated.
The winner of the 1st edition of Spice it Up cooking competition, Mrs. Jairus Amaka Peace, commended the Honourable Member, Hon. Okey Joe Onuakalusi, for the good work he is doing in the constituency and for coming up with such an initiative to encourage young entrepreneurs.
She said, I want to thank Honourable Okey Joe for the good work. Before now, I was not doing well in my business as I did not have enough equipment and resources until I entered the competition and won the competition, which now gave me a standing four burner gas cooker, used in cooking and baking. I was equally given the sum of N150,000 so as to boost my business.”
“I want to use this medium to encourage those coming up to remain focused, serious, and determined. My special prayers goes to Hon Okey Joe and the HOJ Foundation for what they are doing to alleviate the suffering of the people, “she stated.
