· Supporters Received Life Ambassadors Awards
· Event used to Unveil Afenmai Cooking Carnival; winners of carnival represent Afenmai at State level
· Haven Foundation endorsed Carnival, trained and empowered women, batch A group went for further training in Abuja.
By: Millicent Umoru & Macbeth Ojugbeli
It was a long-planned special dinner meeting to honour those who have contributed immensely to the growth of the Magazine. The dinner event for Life Ambassadors took place December 28, 2014 to honour those who stood by the Publisher and Consulting Editor through the toughest times of Journalism career. “Without asking for personal gains or favour, you gave us unflinching support and advice. That is the foundation of our success story” the Consulting Editor, Lois Otse Adams appreciated.
She went further to state that the love they showed nurtured the team to rise up to the level it is today in the media industry. Stars and Styles Magazine is one of the products of Stars and Styles Communications and Publishing Company Limited, which has also published an award-winning inspirational Biography ‘Olaitan Oyerinde: His Struggles for a Better Nigeria’, written by the Consulting Editor and creative writer, Lois Otse Adams; a must read drama, ‘are the gods truly working?’ written by Cos-lewis Osigbemhe, one of the researchers at S & S Documentation unit and a must spread prose on the defence of womanhood and facts about trafficking in persons, ‘Udukh: the Surrogate Daughter’, written by Lois Otse Adams.
Adams said that the Magazine was first published and launched in March 2008. She appreciated those who proudly gave financial and moral support to the maiden edition. They include: Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Dr. (Mrs) Philipa Idogho; Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu; Hon. Abass Braimah; Hon. Gani Audu; Mr. Nickolas Sam-Sedi; Mrs. Florence Odidi; Madam Kuburat Ibrahim; Barrister Gentleman Amegor etc. She told them they have been her mentors and guiding light, adding that they believed in her, reason they were being honoured and recognised because they went out of their ways to support an idea that seemed to be abstract at that time. Presenting the awards, Adams said they were not in a hurry to choose them having taken seven years of practice to honour Seventeen supporters.
She told them that the enormous support given based on humanitarian grounds had created an existing relationship Stars and Styles hope to nurture with the conferment of the title ‘Life Ambassadors of Stars and Styles Magazine’ on them. She said that they hope to use diversified media channels to project, defend, manage and celebrate their achievements and their good images, even though they shall correct them constructively whenever they are derailing.
According to Adams “This process will cost you no financial involvement, we are proud that you have done excellently well in your different careers. We also expect you to connect and create business opportunities for us through your good offices while supporting us financially and morally.”
The dinner meeting was also used to unveil the first culture-based event entitled ‘Afenmai Cooking Carnival 2015 edition’ this event is geared towards showcasing and promoting our cultural values and heritage, bringing out the creative cooking passion in individuals, exploring hidden potentials in them, exposing talents and enriching our tradition. The Consulting Editor said that the event involves all the Afenmai people both home and abroad while pledging for support to make the event a reality.
She also urged all the six local government council chairmen in the Afenmai district to key-into the project, participate and mobilise their people, adding that it will help them empower the less privileged in their communities. Guests were entertained with varieties of foods and drinks. Many guests pledged their support towards the programme come April, 2015.
In a related development, during a dinner meeting organized in Abuja on January 25, 2015 with the purpose to present the Afenmai Cooking Carnival, an internationally affiliated NGO, Haven for Rehabilitation and Re-integration Foundation with a focus on rehabilitation of people who are depressed and less- privileged ones, endorsed the programme after a brief presentation was done by the Consulting Editor. The Visionary, Mrs. Queen Klopper who applauded the programme, pledged her support and promised that all her team would be there from the opening day to the grand finale of the event to train and empower participants which was actually a reality.
It was a dream come true, an expected happening, a reality indeed as the Afenmai Cooking Carnival (Maiden Edition) was an event to celebrate Afenmai Land.
Many have thought how possible it is to host a competition that involve various people in the phase of Afenmai land, but that doubt and thinking have been put into wonder. From the onset, Afenmai Cooking Carnival had looked serious and professional even when it was the maiden edition. All contestants were given the opportunity to show case their talent in the pre cooking stage and the Grand Finale as well.
However, the carnival took off from April 17, 2015 as the host and sponsors made sure everything were put in place for a successful carnival. The contestants were given the forms for free, in order to allow massive participation and display of cultural values and skill in representing their local governments in the competition.
Screening was conducted by the Judges of the competition from April 17 to 21, 2015. The rules and regulations, penalties and gains of the competition were also disclosed to them at the course of screening.
Moreover, the competition screening exercise witnessed the total number of 18 contestants out of 30 participants that filled the forms, cuisine to be cooked on the various competition days were made known to the contestants as follow: Pre cooking competition; Black soup and any swallow of their choice by the contestant, Appetizer of any kind, and Dessert of any kind. The Grand Finale; Groundnut soup and any swallow of choice by the contestant, Appetizer of any kind, as well as Dessert of any kind.
Just as massive as it was, ‘all hands were on deck’. The Udukhotse Foundation went on a familiarity visit to the physically challenged people at Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. The essence of the visitation was to rob minds with the physically challenge, share positive thought with them and also pray with them. The Udukhotse Foundation which stands as a humanitarian group aims to be a hope in which the disabled and the physically challenged people can lean on.
Contestants were given a day-out to the market to rally round in search of the traditional ingredient that can portray the cultural values and heritage of Afenmai land in anticipation for the pre-cooking competition. The essence of this was to allow the contestant showcase their talent base on their perceptions towards what portrays the culture of Afenmai in the food.
The pre-cooking competition took place at Yak Hotel pool side, Auchi, Edo State on April 23. Utensils were made available by the Organiser; Stars and Styles hospitality unit under the stewardship of the Consulting Editor/Author of Stars and Styles Communication and Publishing Company Limited. One of the Judges, Mrs. Linda Okolie, inspected the contestant’s ingredients before cooking commenced.
Although, 10 contestants turned up for the pre cooking competition out of the 18 registered participants. Numbers were allocated to them all follows; contestant number one: Patience Osime – Agenebode, Etsako East; contestant number two: Juliet Philips Suleman –Iraokhor, Etsako Central; contestant number three: Sule Augustina – Jattu, Etasko West; contestant number four: Enamhegbai Patience – Ogbona, Etsako Central; contestant number five: Kpafi Grace – Agenebode, Etsako East; contestant number six: Oguta Juliana Udochi – Agenebode, Etsako East; contestant number seven: Yusuf Fatimah – Agenebode, Etsako East; contestant number eight: Zainab Shaibu – Agenebode, Etsako East; contestant number nine: Ornigbvo Joy – Agenebode, Etsako East; contestant number ten: Kampu Christiana – Agenebode, Etsako East.
The pre-cooking competition was fantastic as the contestants put all effort to emerge for the grand finale. Be it as it may, the judges announced to the 10 contestants that they all made it to the grand finale of the Afenmai Cooking Carnival in other to give them the chance to prove their difference in the presence of the crowed.
Furthermore, just as promised by HAVEN FOR REHABILITATION AND RE-INTEGRATION FOUNDATION AND UDUKHOTSE FOUNDATION, an ongoing preparation on the training of over 40 participants in the carnival on Adire making; tie and dye, free style and sewing method including making of different kind of soap. The skill acquisition training was done to make the participants entrepreneurs after the competition. The training also was to empower the bests groups in the training basically on the field they partook. The same day, Udukhotse Foundation went to Local governments to meet with the physically challenged persons on moral
The training was conducted on April 24, 2015 at Yak Hotel pool side. Two groups of three emerge the best trainee participants. On this course, the winners of this training one from Adire (Tie & Dye) making and other from soap making were granted the opportunity to go to Abuja for final training and empowerment by the Haven Foundation.
The winners of the training programme were as excited as testified, “I see that this carnival is true and there is truthfulness in the conduct of everything” Juliana Oguta, who is also the winner of the cooking competion.
In addition, the long awaited Grand Finale held on April 25, was superb, no doubt, it was grand indeed. Eight (8) contestants turned up for the final as the cooking was really a tough competition.
The Finale was grazed by Alh. Ashietu Oshiomhole, Governor’s mother; Hon. Gain Audu, former Chairman, Etsako West and member, House of Assembly, who also represented the Patron of the Carnival, Prince Clem Agba, Commissioner of Environment and Public Utilities, Edo State; H.R.H., Chief Jackson Etokhana, Oghie Avhianwu; Mrs. Bridget Ayo Uduimoh, Local Government Council Worker; Mrs. Kate Ebie, Director, Culture, who represented the Commissioner, Arts, Culture And Tourism Edo State; Party and community leaders and respected men and women in Afenmai Land.
Just as planned, making of appetizer was the first phase for the contestant as was tasted by the judges whom are: Mrs. Linda Okolie, Senior Officer in the Federal Civil Service, Abuja; Mrs. Bridget Ayo Uduimoh; Mrs. Adegbha Elizabeth Sam-Sedi Adegbha and Mrs. Kate Ebie. Thereafter the long awaited Groundnut soup was prepared by all the contestants which the judges and dignitaries took their time tasting from each contestant table to table.
The result of the competition was carefully compiled by the secretary to the Carnival Committee, Mr. Samson Omosotomhe of Department of Mass Communication, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, as other events took place to entertain the guest in anticipation for the final result.
Certificates were presented to some invited guests for their moral, royal and financial support among whom are, some Royal Highnesses, Local Government Chairmen, Commissioners, State and Federal Representatives.
The prizes were made available for the winners;
Second runner up went home with blender, Stove, Apron and T.shirt; first runner up withblender, Stove, Apron and T. shirt; while Winner went home with deep freezer, Stove, Apron, T. shirt, cash of N10,000 and be the Chef of Stars and Styles Hospitality Unit.
The result was announced by Mrs. Bridget Ayo Uduimoh, contestant number two (2) Miss. Juliet Philips Suleman came out as the second runner-up, Contestant number three (3) Miss Sule Augustina Omowa, came out the first runner – up, and the winner of Afenmai Cooking Carnival (maiden Edition) was Mrs. Juliana Oguta, contestant number (6). They were presented with their different prizes and Certificates. Also Hon. Gani Audu, empowered the winner with the sum of N10, 000 to start up anything good with it.
According to Mrs. Oguta, who emerged winner of the cooking carnival, “I never thought of emerging the winner of the competition because good cooks were competing for same position but my mindset of keeping focus made me win, winning the prize was a surprise to me because I have never cooked for hotel before, though I run a local fish pepper soup outfil in my community, I stayed with my grandmother who thought me how to cook and I have been a good learner and I remain focus and committed in anything I do. I never thought coming out first in this competition but I have the mind that I will emerge something, even if it was not a prize, I would have gotten a job to cook for restaurants or hotels from here.”
She further stated how happy she was at the moment “I am so happy because I will be going back to Agenebode with this deep freezer and other prizes. My people will know that Stars and Styles Communication and Publishing Company Limited who hosted the Afenmai Cooking Carnival are real and transparent. Also, am happy because I was among the persons chosen to go to Abuja for final training and empowerment by Haven Foundation. This competition has really brightened my life. I am so happy and I want to thank the organizers most especially, Lois Otse Adams and her crew for this privilege and also want to thank the Judges who were fair in judging our performance, including the people who compiled the result. Thank you very much”.
The performances of the contestants on the Cooking Competition are as follows; Contestant number one (1) Osime Patience – 101 points; Contestant number two (2) Juliet Philips – 116 points; Contestant number three (3) Sule Augustina – 119 points; Contestant number four (4) Patience Emamhegbai -108 points; Contestant number five (5) Kpafi Grace – 103 points; Contestant number six (6) Juliana Oguta – 128 points; Contestant number seven (7) Yusuf Fatima – 97 points; Contestant number eight (8) Zainab Shaibu – 106 points.
Worthy to note is that the three winners represents the three local governments that make up Etsako which are; Etsako East, Agenebode precisely produced the winner; Jattu- Uzairue in Etsako West produced the 1STRunner-up while the 2nd runner-up is from Etsako Central Iroakhor to be precise.
In response to the prize as the first runner-up Miss. Sule Augustina said she feels very excited and accomplished a bit because this competition has just reminded her that the true power of cooking does not reside mainly on age or being a married women, that the young ones like her can do it. “I feel great, this competition is like a lesson to me, I came out second and I have to learn more in order to emerge first position in the next edition. I feel great because I am young and I always tell young people like me to do it in terms of competing with our mothers on who is the best cook and today I have shown that. I believe by next edition we would have more young people in the competition and in my own way I will invite more young girls to the competition,” she said.
The three winners have been sponsored by Stars and Styles Hospitality unit to participate in the World Culture Day (Food Fair) at the state level through the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism May 21, 2015.
While the batch A group of the participants trained by Haven Foundation started their two weeks further training in Abuja, hosted by Mrs. Queen Klopper and monitored by Lois Otse Adams.
Afenmai Cooking Carnival was indeed a success as guests testify of the outstanding event and most especially the taste of the food. Afenmai land is blessed with many delicious native soup which portrays their culture. The sole aim of the organizers was to bring the people of the local Government in Afenmai land namely: Etsako West, Etsako East, Etsako Central, Akoko Edo, Owan East, and Owan west together through the Carnival, with the aim to activate passions, display talents, showcase cultures and heritage that can attract foreign tourists to participate annually. It was a deed well done for a maiden edition.
Published in Stars and Styles Magazine
