The winners of Nigeria’s culinary game show, Naija Master Chef, have shared their experiences after emerging victorious in the maiden edition of the competition.
According to the first edition’s winner, Cross River State-born but Abuja-based economist, Janet Mogbuk aka Chef J-Love, Naija Master Chef was a platform she employed to boost her confidence and launch a career in entertainment. For 2nd place winner, Delta State-based Chef Thompson Otum, the cooking show fulfilled a lifelong dream of his grandma who has been an inspiration to him. Each of them carted home a car and consolation prizes worth millions of naira.
Aside education and empowerment, Naija Master Chef reality TV show also seeks to entertain the African audience, by feeding them with behind-the-scenes of the process of preparation of popular Nigerian delicacies, and the lifestyle of the chefs.
The initiative brings together chefs from diverse backgrounds and trainings into one house for a culinary competition. However, the second edition seeks to beam light and celebrate people who are behind the delicious delicacies that place Nigeria on the global cuisine map.
Meanwhile, Naija Chefs Hub, organisers of the annual show, which climaxes with a food exhibition, have raised the bar with the announcement of mouth watering prizes for this year’s winners of the contest tagged: ‘Lush Edition’. The prizes include a branded car and N1 million sponsored-trip to Dubai for the overall winner. The 2nd place winner will get a landed property while the 3rd position holder will smile home with consolation cash prize.
Registration for season 2 opened on July 1 and is expected to run till July 15. This will be followed by the selection of contestants that will enter the house and be camped for 30 days. Their stay in the Naija Chef Hub will feature interesting games and contents to showcase extraordinary chefs of Nigerian origin. Winner and runners-up are selected through the weekly eviction process based on their performances in the tasks given, and votes by their fans.
“Brands can cash in on the sponsorship opportunity to reach millions through the project, as the publicity and media mileage reaches an approximate 20 million young people/viewers across the world,” the organisers said.