Master Chiemelie Anunobi of the Government Technical College, Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has won the Ogidi zone maiden edition of Nonye Soludo’s ‘Healthy Living Cooking Competition’ organised for secondary schools in the state.
Anunobi, the only male student in the competition, beat his co-contestants in the three-course meal exercise.
The six contestants that vied in the cooking exercise emerged each from the six educational zones of the state, namely: Ogidi, Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka, Aguata and Otuocha respectively.
The three best candidates were selected for the final showdown after the first stage, which entailed the making of two-course diets.
While Chimelie Anunobi, from GTC, Nkpor, representing Ogidi Zone, emerged the overall winner, Chisom Nworji from Kenneth Dike Memorial Secondary School, Awka, representing Awka Zone, was the runner-up and Blessing Nwabia, from Carol Standard Secondary School, Ichi, Nnewi, representing Nnewi Zone, came third.
The overall winner went home with a cash prize of N200,000, the runner-up with N150,000, the third winner a sum of N100,000 while other participants were also rewarded with consolatory cash gifts.
Speaking after the event, Mrs Soludo hailed the students for displaying exceptional cooking skills and sticking to the rules of the game.
The governor’s wife explained that the essence of the competition was to teach the students hygiene, discipline, diligence, and commitment to healthy living, with particular emphasis on understanding the uniqueness of food.
She further noted that by making the cooking process completely natural, she wanted to instill the basics of organic food lifestyle and that “food does not have to be prepared with synthetic ingredients to be delicious or healthy.”
The three winners, who spoke after being presented with the cash prizes, said that though the competition was a first-time experience for them, it opened their eyes to so many different and new things that would guide their kitchen habits and general health lifestyles.
They appreciated Mrs Soludo for not only discovering them but for encouraging them to show what they could do and pledged that they would take the organic cooking lifestyle to their homes and schools.
