There is the belief that one of the ways by which a wife can consistently secure attention of her husband and solidify their relationship is to be able to prepare him delicious soups and meals which are served him at the right time.

It may be unlikely that a man who is made to enjoy this treatment by his wife would hardly look elsewhere for meal. It is on the other hand argued that a man deprived of this at home may be encouraged to look elsewhere.

As a way of checking indulgence in the latter, Doyin Investment Nigeria Limited has decided to introduce a cooking competition for women in Kwara state with huge prizes awarded to those that excelled at the competition.

According to Executive Director of the company, Princess Omolola Olobayo the competition tagged, Doyin Cube Cook Competition would encourage young ladies on how to cook properly.

Olobayo who spoke with newsmen at the venue of the Programme at Gomola hall along Abdulwahab Folawiyo Road in Ilorin hinted that the competition is also meant to thank their customers that have patronized them over the years saying; “They  have helped us grow and we want to give back to them.”

Doyin Investments boss disclosed that 20 people who were initially shortlisted for the competition were screened through cooking before four of them were finally selected for the competition proper.

She stated: “Criteria considered for winning the first prize; dressing, neatness, presentation, timeliness and the ingredients. They have been asked to produce their own original recipe. Some people take cooking as a hobby, some people cook because they have to and some do it as a profession.

“This type of competition will encourage young ladies to learn how to cook because everybody will see cooking as fun. The first time the contestants came, every one of them loved cooking and it was all fun to them.”

Olobayo while disclosing that  the Kwara state University, Malete, plans to make its students participate in the next year cooking competition, expressed hope that by the time the university is involved,  other institutions will show interest while the programme will become more established.

She advised that Home Economics should be made a compulsory subject in post primary schools saying it would help in solving challenges in home management and promote development of the country.

“At the rate we are now I will recommend that Home Economics is made compulsory in all secondary schools in Nigeria. Our nation cannot except we know how to manage our homes,” she stated.

The Doyin Investments boss who is the Kwara and Kogi state Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) urged the federal government to assist indigenous manufacturers in the country.

She said: “The best thing government can do for indigenous manufacturers is the provision of conducive environment to work in. The epileptic power supply in Nigeria is the major issue for all manufacturers.

“Multiple-taxation has also been another source of concern. Right from the council to the federal levels sometimes we are made to pay one tax three times.”

Speaking before the commencement of the competition, the Secretary to the State Government, Isiaka Gold, said the essence of the contest was to engender peace in the society.

“I therefore appeal to us all to continue to ensure the well-being of Kwara and Nigeria as a whole,” he added.

Aside from Gold other government functionaries who graced the occasion included Senior Special Assistant to Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed on Poverty Alleviation, Hajia Sarat Adebayo and the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Comfort Afolayan.

Friends and relations of the contestants as well as many customers of the company also witnessed the competition with members of the state Art Council thrilling the gathering with musical entertainment.

The contestants who are all married women in their thirties were given two hours within which to prepare their soup and food. As each of them chose the soup she wanted to prepare one went for edikaikan, two for efo rirowhile the remaining one opted for egusi.

At the end of the two-hour deadline, the performances of the contestants were judged by a panel comprising both female and male experienced cooks who examined what the women prepared to determine the winner and the first two runners-up.

Adebimpe Olanipekun who emerged the winner went home with a gas cooker with an in built oven while the first runner-up Olamide Ibrahim won a gigantic deep freezer.

The second runner-up, Yomi Okonta carted away a laundry machine just as the fourth contestant Folashade Oladehinde and others who could not make the final rounds bagged consolation prizes.