Jare Olukotun & Austin Onah (SIWES Student)
-2025 winners emerge in hairdressing, shoe making competitions
It was another opportunity to test the students’ proficiencies in cooking when the Ikorodu – Oga Association (IKODASS) on Tuesday, held another food competition as part of the ongoing celebration of the 34th edition of the annual Ikorodu Oga Festival.
Eight schools participated in the food competition of the annual competition that celebrates creativity, tradition, and the rich culinary heritage of Ikorodu.
At the end of the event, Shams-El-Deen Grammar School emerged as the overall winner with their well-prepared Efo Riro and Eba, while Ipakodo Senior Grammar School took the second position with their tasty Ojojo Alataresuresu, and Topdeal College came third, winning the hearts of many with their Ebiripo and Egusi Ijebu.
The event, which drew a large crowd of students, teachers, and community leaders, saw each participating school prepare a special traditional dish that reflected Ijebu culture and local delicacies.
Other schools that entered for the competition were Ikorodu Senior Grammar School (Akara Oka), Maya Community Junior Grammar School (Ikokore), Bencom College (kokore Ijebu), Majidun Senior Grammar School (Asaro Elepo) and Mac-Mel School (Asaro Elepo)
The panel of judges, made up of Mrs. Olapade, Mrs. Ifeoma Omotosho, and Mrs. Jagun, carefully assessed the dishes based on taste, creativity, presentation, and adherence to traditional methods.
The competition was filled with excitement and entertainment, as the students not only cooked but also explained the cultural importance of each meal. Guests and spectators watched with smiles as the young chefs displayed impressive cooking skills and teamwork.
The judges commended all the participants for their efforts and creativity, while guests praised the organisers of the Ikorodu Oga Festival for promoting local culture and engaging young people through such innovative competitions.
Relatedly, winners have also emerged in the hairdressing and shoe making competitions that were also held at the Ikorodu Town Hall, to promote styles and skills among the hairdressers and cobblers in Ikorodu.
According to the judges, creativity and originality, technique and craftsmanship, dressing, dances, and finishing, were considered in grading the contestants in the hairdressing competition.
In announcing the results, Oluwaseyi Nikoro, (contestant 5) emerged winner of the contest with first runner – up, Bello Rashidat (contestant 1), and second runner -up, Oluwakemi Adewole (contestant 2). They won N100,000, N70,000 and N50,000 respectively.
Others are Mistura Sonoiki (contestant 3) fourth position, Itunu Adeniji (contestants 6) fifth position, Fasanya Jumoke (contestants 7) sixth position and Jelila Katola (contestant 4) seventh position
There was also competition among cobblers in Ikorodu with finalists given a pair of sandals and asked to make the other pairs in the exact way it is within a stipulated time.
Alhaji Fatai Kolawole, IKOASS Chairman, speaking, said the food competition is designed to promote local heritage among the students, and also added that the hair dressers will also showcase their creativity.
He, however, expressed disappointment at the lack of unity among the fashion designers which prevented them from participating in this year’s edition.
“Kabiyesi, we decided to invite students to come and cook our traditional local foods — the kind our mothers used to prepare in those days. We brought together both private and public schools to participate in this cooking competition, celebrating our cultural heritage. Each school has been assigned a specific traditional dish to prepare. They came with their utensils, ingredients, and passion to make these special meals.
“We also have the hairdressers here today, and they are going to showcase their creativity and hairstyles, just as they do every year. The shoemakers are also present; they too will display their craftsmanship and hard work.
“I must say that we should have had the tailors here as well, but unfortunately, they are not present today. This is because there is no unity among them — they have been working separately. I want to use this opportunity to appeal to them to come together in unity, so that next year, we can all celebrate as one big family,” he said.
In a chat with students of Shamsideen Senior Grammar School that won the food competition – Odejaye, Orelaja Joshua Oluwasegun, and Olayinka Hazimat, they expressed happiness at their emergence as the 2025 winners of the Ikorodu -Oga Culinary Competition and thanked the organisers for the opportunity.
Representative of the second position school – Ipakodo Senior Grammar School – Shokoya Aderonke, also speaking with THE IMPACT, said:
“We are happy. We tried our best to win, and we thank God for the result.”
Students of Topdeal College – Adekunle Ibrahim, Kayode Toluwani, and Adegunke Yemisi, the third position school in the food competition, also speaking expressed their happiness
