By Omoruyi Patricia Osayomore
The Edo State Ministry of Education has held a welcome-home ceremony in Benin City to honor Miss Tracy Eboigbodin, an Edo State indigene residing in Europe, for emerging the winner of the International Master Chef Competition (IMCC) in the current year’s International Cooking Competition in Italy.
The event which was held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), Benin City, and titled, “Edo State Ministry of Education Welcomes Master Chef Tracy Eboigbodin”, was graced by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe; the Functioning Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Oni Ekhosuehi; the Managing Director, JOOPSA, Mrs. Imuwahen Ojoonu; Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, represented by his Deputy, Tarek Chazli as well as the Master Chef, Miss Tracy Eboigbodin, among other dignitaries.
The students of Benin Technical College in their radiant white chef regalia were in attendance to honor the Master Chef Winner, who doubled as their mentor and role model in the field of catering.
The Commissioner for Education used the opportunity to reassure of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s commitment to education at all levels, ranging from basic, post-basic, adult, special and technical, among others, saying that technical education is very important to the Governor.
In her words, “EdoBEST 2.0 reform initiative is focusing more on technical education. Currently, the State has five technical schools as well as 15 identified industries, ranging from oil and gas to printing profession.
“The Governor has proposed to build 20 more technical colleges with at least one in each of the 18 local government areas across the State, in addition to the already existing five which will make job opportunities easier for the students after school, where they will no longer be job hunting, rather be employers of labor.”
Dr. Oviawe revealed that the State Government will inaugurate a Master Chef Competition among technical college students in the State with the maiden edition to be held during the State Education Week in January 2023, where participating students will be afforded the opportunity to demonstrate their technical skills and prizes will be won.
Encouraging the technical students on the need for self-confidence and to pride themselves on their chosen field, the Commissioner said that the five technical colleges will be equipped with a world class industrial kitchen before the end of 2023.
She added that the program will include the teaching of entrepreneurial courses for the students to learn modern profit making skills which will make them outstanding locally and internationally, admonishing them to aim at becoming worldwide celebrated master chefs like Tracy Eboigbodin in the near future.
Miss Eboigbodin encouraged the technical students to work hard towards achieving their dreams, admonishing that hard work and dedication is what earned her the exalted position of an international master chef, which has placed her above her contemporaries in the chef world.
She called on them to showcase their peculiar skills and knowledge through the upcoming maiden edition of the Edo State Master Chef competition where the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria will be among the judges for the competition.
As part of the events to honor the Winner of the International Master Chef, Miss Eboigbodin, the technical students did a presentation on the recipes and method of preparation of some foods and pastries during the food exhibition session where Chinese fried rice, Nigeria special jollof rice, chin-chin, cake and meat-pie, amongst others were showcased.
High point of the event was the presentation of a crafted bronze Queen Idia head gift to Miss Tracy Eboigbodin.
The Commissioner, said the gift is for appreciation to the master Chef on behalf of Edo State for being outstanding among her peers, a role model to younger students and making her State and country proud.
