The immediate-past Commissioner for Works in Osun State, Mr. Remi Omowaye has called on Nigerians to support Ekiti-born chef, Damilola Adeparusi, in her bid to set a new world record for longest cooking time.
In a statement obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, Omowaye said that rather than discouraging the chef with a barrage of criticisms that have trailed her efforts to break a record set by another Nigerian for the longest cooking hour, Adeparusi should instead be encouraged to fulfil her dream.
He subsequently announced the donation of N100,000 to the chef and commended her for cooking traditional cuisines that were not so popular outside Ekiti State.
“I throw my weight behind the Ekiti-born chef, Miss Damilola Adeparusi, with cash support of N100,000 in her quest to break the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon.
“Adeparusi, who is currently a student of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, is currently cooking at an apartment in Ilupeju-Ekiti in the Oye Local Government Area of the state.
“Records are made to be broken. Damilola did not commit any crime by attempting to break Hilda’s record. The sky is wide enough to accommodate different types of birds. Let her spread her wings and fly. I think she is also trying to make a name for herself. There’s no harm in healthy competition.
“Even if the lady doesn’t break the record, at least, we have known her now, like we knew Hilda and I think Hilda should also be happy to have been able to motivate someone to try to do the unthinkable”.
He, however, chided the Ekiti chef’s poor planning for the exercise, saying provision should have been made for a standby medical personnel in case of emergency.
He also advised the chef to prepare more of traditional Ekiti meals like Feregede, Otili, Pakala, Usu Eura, Usu Olo, Ewa Alagbado, Eusaa, and Egbo among others, during the cooking marathon.
