The 2nd Edition of the Aniocha North Cooking Competition has ended in grand style with contestants going home with attractive prices.
The competition, sponsored by the Vice Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government, Delta State, Hon Princess Tina Amuziam in conjunction with her Foundation, Princess Tina Amuziam Foundation was held on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Issele-Uku.
This year’s competition with the theme, “Our Food For Healthy Living”, was contested by ten women drawn from the various communities in the Local Government area.
The event which unveiled the Aniocha North Local Government area as a tourist hub was attended by a huge crowd of people within and outside the Local Government area.
Chief Josephine Ada Kachikwu; a member of the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council, Chief Rita Daniels; Executive Assistant to the State Governor, Female Vice Chairmen from some of the Local Government Councils in the State, some members of the legislative arm of Aniocha North Local Government, Hon. Julius Ego; former secretary to the PDP in the Area, Hon. Nkem Ogbechei; the present PDP Woman leader in the area, the former area PDP Woman leader, Chief Dorothy Udeh and Mrs Monica Moemeka, former Senior Special Assistant on women development to the State Governor were among the people at the event.
This year’s contest was on the preparation of egusi soup to be served with fufu or garri with the criteria for winning centered on clean cooking environment, the cooks appearance, the kind of cooking utensils being used, and adherence to the recipe of the food in the contest.
Also the contestants were judged on their kitchen manners, how they served the food and the taste of the food.
At the end of the contest, contestant number 9; Mrs Edith Ijeh from Ukwu-Nzu, scored 97 marks to clinch the first position while contestant number 1, Mrs. Blessing Bolum Nwani from Onicha – Uku scored 89 marks to emerge the second position with the third position given to contestant number 7, Mrs. Ruth Nwaozo from Issele-Uku haven scored 85 marks.
Contestant number 6, Mrs. Josephine Nwaegbo from Issele-Uku scored 81 marks to secure the fourth position and Contestant number 8, Mrs Theresa Amamudi from Idumuje – Unor came up the fifth position with 77 marks as her score in the competition.
The first position was presented with a deep freezer, the second position; Gas Cooker, third position; grinding machine, fourth position; table gas cooker and the fifth position; table gas cooker.
The 6th to the 10th positions placeholders went home with mouthwatering consolation cash prizes.
Presenting the prizes to the winners, Chief Josephine Kachikwu who was the Mother of the Day, congratulated and appreciated all the contestants for participating in the competition.
She declared the competition, a no winner, no vanquish contest, saying it was an event geared towards maintaining and inculcating in the women traditional recipe in cooking food.
She commended Hon. Tina Amuziam and her Foundation for the initiative, even as she advocated for more leadership positions such as Local Government Chairman for women in the local Government area, noting that women in the local Government area have continued to prove themselves worthy of higher responsibilities.
While pledging to continue to assist in the development of women in all sectors, Chief Kachikwu said she will continue to support women of character and noble initiatives to obtain higher leadership positions in the local Government area.
Earlier in her welcome Address, the Vice Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government and the Founder of Princess Tina Amuziam Foundation, Hon. Princess Tina Amuziam, said the cooking competition was geared not only to promote the traditional cuisines for healthy living that Aniocha North people are known for, but also to open up the local Government area as a centre of tourist attractions.
Hon Amuziam, a renowned Nollywood Star and former Chairman of the Delta State Tourism Board said the idea came when she was in the Ministry of Arts and Culture, saying that in the first edition the contest was on the best way to prepare ujuju soup.
She commended the contestants for their resilience and for participating in the programme and assured the third edition will be an improvement on the previous ones.
Amuziam appreciated Chief Nkem Okwuofu, Chief Josephine Kachikwu, Major General Nani Ochei amongst others for their support and encouragement towards the success and sustenance of the cooking competition.
