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By Maduka Nweke
A 26-year-old Favour Bessan, aka Favy, has won the MasterChef Nigeria Season 1, taking home the coveted MasterChef Nigeria trophy and N73 million cash prize.
The grand finale saw her go head-to-head with Fads in a gruelling challenge that drew on every skill they had acquired or honed throughout the competition. Judged by renowned culinary experts, Chef Stone and Chef Eros, the showdown proved to be the ultimate measure of both contestants’ creativity, composure, decision-making and excellence.
For their final assignment, the two home cooks were tasked with creating a three-course menu that reflected their culinary identity. Before cooking began, Chef Stone encouraged them with a simple instruction: “Cook from your heart. Put yourself on the plate.”
Favy rose to the occasion with a menu that reflected confidence, technique and imagination. For her starter, she served smoked salmon with potato mash and roasted bell pepper soup. Her carefully curated menu impressed the judges with its balance of flavour, presentation and storytelling, ultimately earning her the title of Nigeria’s first MasterChef.
Her victory marked the culmination of one of the season’s most remarkable journeys. Throughout the competition, she consistently demonstrated resilience, poise under pressure and an unwavering commitment to growth. She also made history as the first contestant to win the MasterChef Nigeria Immunity Pin, a strategic advantage that proved pivotal in securing her place in the semi-finals.
In her remarks, she described the moment as a dream come true and dedicated the achievement to every aspiring home cook who believes that passion, perseverance and hard work can open extraordinary doors.
Since premiering on April 26, MasterChef Nigeria has captured the hearts of audiences across the country, celebrating the richness of Nigerian cuisine, while showcasing the incredible talent of everyday home cooks. Over 13 weeks, viewers watched contestants transform as they navigated pressure tests, mystery boxes, team cook-offs and eliminations, highlighting the depth and diversity of Nigeria’s culinary landscape.
On the success of the inaugural season, Tamara van Eeckhoven, Managing Director of Primedia Africa, the producer of MasterChef Nigeria, thanked the contestants, judges, headline sponsor, Power Oil and all the sponsors and partners, whose contributions brought the series to life.
She also expressed her gratitude to the millions of viewers, whose support made MasterChef Nigeria a success.
“MasterChef Nigeria was created to celebrate the nation’s extraordinary culinary talent and the response to this first season has been truly remarkable. Favy’s journey embodies everything the competition stands for, including passion, resilience, creativity and excellence. We congratulate her and celebrate every contestant who inspired audiences throughout this unforgettable season,” van Eeckhoven said.
As the first season draws to a close, MasterChef Nigeria leaves behind more than just a winner. It has sparked a national celebration of food, inspired aspiring culinary talent across the country and reinforced Nigeria’s standing as one of the world’s most exciting culinary destinations.
