Distant signals searching for the best jollof rice in the land, perhaps the firewood-made type, is getting stronger now that a total of 43 Meiza Flavour Fiesta (MFF) 2.0 chef contestants have performed a show of hands and got counted, therefore testifying to their interest in vying for the ₦200,000 grand prize when or if their 5-minute-long video submissions get the most votes by Boxing Day.

One thing to note this time around is that all the participants whose profiles made the final cut got in the race after managing to get their registrations in quickly enough before the Tuesday 10 December 2024 deadline, which implies eight days after the launch.

They were pulled from 13 states and upon their being drafted will be expected to showcase their cooking prowess and their sense of driving conversations around culinary attractions using cooking ingredients produced by Nigerian brands. How original is that for supporting the idea of buying and eating locally?

ALSO READ: Meiza Flavour Fiesta 2.0 – Contest Details

Last year on the Meiza Flavour Fiesta, it was a different burden for the pilot contestants trying out treats centring on unique local dishes that mirror attitudes and preferences of the different regions in Nigeria. It produced Miss Nwokenna Favour as the main winner as her freshly-made Ofe Okazi, an Igbo delicacy, won ₦100,000.

Getting excited in-house

Well, it is nearly 365 days since the first set of champions was announced by the business and lifestyle magazine Meiza Nigeria, and now it is time to ready the crown for the new set of ambassadors of the show that are taking over. The FourPoints Communications team organising the contest can’t contain excitement over the progress made in just one year.

It is a delight running the second edition of the annual food fiesta, says Mr Adewole Ojo, the Chief Executive Officer. Last year, the star prize was ₦100,000. For the 2024 edition, we bumped it up to ₦200,000. The interest we are seeing is huge, and we are encouraged by this to put in more to showcase culinary skills from across Nigeria.  

The Meiza Flavour Fiesta is a magnet for not just those Nigerians who see the deep connection between food and symbols of culture. This year is calling on chefs to cook a national staple, jollof rice and win prizes. But that is not the main attraction, is it?

According to Mr Ojo, the kicker is putting Nigeria’s rich, heterogeneous culture, which is well expressed in the diverse food offerings across people and regions, on a global stage.

It is celebrating our diversity, and showcasing the various unique ways we treat jollof rice, which is indigenous to us, in spite of the belated claims by some other nationals.

Meiza Nigeria is that platform that showcases the best of Nigeria, and the food fiesta is an opportunity to demonstrate what makes our media the go-to platform for everything good about our country.

A breakdown of the locations MFF2.0 participants registered from shows them rearing their heads in from the following mapped sub-regions:

Abuja (4)

Ogun (1)

Lagos (22)

Bayelsa (1)

Rivers State (4)

Kaduna (2)

Delta (1)

Benue (1)

Anambra (2)

Imo (1)

Enugu (1)

Ebonyi (2)

Edo (1)

Submission window reminder

The video submission window remains open until Monday, 16 December 2024, by 11:59p.m, which then means that registered contestants ought to hurry.

Most participants in several promotion posts on Meiza Nigeria’s socials have indicated that they are ready to see through their pursuit of glory and to gain the attribution of being the best jollof rice chef in the whole country.

After submitting their entries, contestants stand a chance to win ₦200,000; ₦100,000 and ₦50,000 given to the first, second and third winners, respectively.

To get more updates about MFF 2.0, competitors are to visit HERE.

If they have any questions or encounter any challenges, contestants can send a direct message to @meizanigeria on its socials. Tick-tock, participants! The time to drive in that 5-minute clip of your firewood cooking is now. Hopefully, the creativity will bring about new ways of preparing the national dish.

Meiza Nigeria