UNILAG, UI, others produce representatives in Onga cooking contest

(L-R): Mrs Edna Obi, Senior Brand Manager, Onga Seasoning, Promasidor Nigeria Limited; Miss Egbenwonu Ishioma Jessica, Winner in the Regional Campus activation held in University of Ibadan for the onging 2014 Onga National Campus Cooking Competition; Mrs Izegbuwa Izevbaye, Assistant Brand Manager; and a judge during the activation of the annual contest on the university’s campus recently

A total of four regional winners have emerged in the ongoing 2014 Onga National Campus Cooking Competition. The winners, picked at the Campus activations done in four universities out of the 14 targeted for the campaign, will join others to compete at the grand finale holding in Lagos from which a national winner will emerge.

The regional winners who have already been identified are: Miss Jessica Egbenwonu, a student of Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan; Miss Arafat Azeez, student of Environmental Resources Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB); Miss Temitope Oyedija, student of Faculty of Law, University of Lagos; and Christopher Xyztus, student of School of Natural and Applied Science, Federal University of Technology, Minna.

With the Egusi Soup and Semo recipe she prepared during the contest, Egbenwonu was considered the best among all the contestants while Azeez led the pack of her peers with Efo riro and Eba that delighted the judges. For the contest at University of Lagos, Oyedija recorded victory over others with the Okro Soup and Amala recipe she prepared. However, the first regional winner from the North, Xyztus, dazzled other contestants with a combination of Miyan Kubewa and Tuwo Masara to win.

Apart from the regional winners who went home with Deep Freezers as part of their reward for participating in the competition, the first runners-up and second runners-up also carted away gas oven. Other contestants equally smiled home with consolation prizes.

(L-R): Winner in the regional activation of the onging 2014 Onga National Campus Cooking Competition held at University of Lagos, Miss Temitope Oyedija; first Runner-Up, Mr. Peter Uwazie; and second Runner-Up, Miss Vivian Ejim; during the activation held on the university’s campus recently

Amazed by her victory, the UNAAB’s representative said she never expected to win but noted that the exceptional aroma of Onga Seasoning must have contributed to her success in the contest. Her words: “Onga is a very good seasoning; it has a very nice aroma and it’s delicious in your cooking. So, I think every lady who wants to be a champion like me should always use Onga seasoning.”

The objective of the competition is to give students across select campuses the opportunity to sharpen their culinary skills; enlighten the public on the wide variety of dishes enjoyed by different cultures across the country; and create an emotional bond between the brand’s target audience and the Onga Seasoning through active engagement and one-on-one interaction.

Speaking on the competition, Mr. Kachi Onubogu, Executive Director, Commercial, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, sponsors of the competition said one of the tested platforms Onga uses to engage its target audience is Onga National Campus Cooking Competition.

Represented by Mr. Festus Tettey, Head of Marketing, at the Press Briefing held on the contest, Mr. Onubogu said “Onga brand employs a wide range of platforms in engaging our target audience. One of such tested platforms is the Onga National Campus Cooking Competition, which takes place in selected campuses of universities in Nigeria. It is an effective platform for interacting closely with our target group and engaging them in the art of cooking.”

To participate in the ongoing campus activation, contestants are asked to submit their entries in the dedicated drop boxes placed within their faculties. Each entry is expected to comprise an empty pouch of Onga Cubes, 5 empty wrappers of Onga Cube and 5 Onga powder sachets.

A total of 10 contestants are picked to represent each university in a raffle draw; and the best from each campus is chosen as winner to represent the participating institution in the Grand Finale that will hold in Lagos in November 2014.