By KENECHUKWU OFOMAH, Awka

The 2025 Healthy Living Cooking Competition organised by the Wife of Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo, witnessed a shocker on Friday, as a male student, Ikechukwu Ifechukwu emerged winner of the annual event.

At the ceremony held at the Light House, Awka, Ifechukwu, from St Charles College, Onitsha, and his partner, who represented Onitsha zone, won the competition by defeating female contestants from schools in Aguata and Nnewi zones, who emerged 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The participants were tasked to choose their recipe and several delicacies, from start to finish within a time-lag of one hour, twenty minutes.

They were assessed based on proper hygiene, food taste, dishing and service manner.

Speaking during the event, the Anambra First Lady, Dr. Soludo explained that the competition came about to correct an observed anomaly where young people are unable to prepare healthy meals.

According to her, this challenge was the reason many of the young people resort to junks, which cause a lot of health problems for them.

Identifying nutrition as a critical aspect of the healthy living campaign she is championing in the state, Dr. Soludo emphasised that the cooking competition was to teach the children how to prepare healthy foods.

“Teaching the young people to eat healthy food early in their formative stages is key to protecting their health and preserving the dying culture of the people,” she said.

Expressing delight at the outcome of the competition, Dr stressed the need for parents not to seclude any home chore for a particular sex, urging them to provide their children the same of training and opportunity to ensure that they develop at equal pace.

This she noted, will also help them live independent lives without total dependence on others.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike said the competition was envisioned to teach the values of healthy eating, discipline, teamwork, and creativity, through hands-on cooking and nutrition education.

Obidike acknowledged that the competition also promotes indigenous foods, inspires career interests in nutrition and hospitality, and encourages young minds to embrace wellness as a lifestyle.

Speaking after receiving the winner’s prize, Master Ifechukwu expressed appreciation to the wife of the state governor for the opportunity created for the young people to learn and showcase their cooking skills.

He recalled, with fondness, his mother’s charge while teaching him the rudiments of cooking, which he said he paid keen attention to, noting that when he learned cooking, he never expected that the skill will land him good fortunes.

“For me, it is another reason to thank the governor’s wife, and my mother for her diligence in teaching me how to prepare healthy meals.

“I believe all these exposures are geared towards healthy living and I am so impressed and happy that I won today,” he said.

Also, at the Banquet Hall of the Light House, students from the six education zones in the state contested in the Healthy Living Quiz.

In the final results, Nnewi zone came 1st, followed by Otuocha and Aguata in second and third places.

The wife of the governor also presented cash gifts to the winners as well as the coordinators and champions of the Healthy Living Club in the schools in the state.

• PHOTO: Healthy Living Cooking Competition organizer, Dr. Nonye Soludo, going round to inspect the works of the contestants on Friday

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