Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Twenty-six-year-old Favour Bessan, popularly known as Favy, has emerged as the winner of the maiden edition of MasterChef Nigeria, walking away with the coveted championship trophy and a N73 million grand prize.
Favy sealed her historic victory after defeating fellow finalist Fads in a high-stakes grand finale that tested every aspect of their culinary expertise.
The intense cook-off challenged the finalists to showcase the techniques, creativity and resilience they had developed throughout the competition.
Presided over by acclaimed chefs Chef Stone and Chef Eros, the final showdown pushed both contestants to their limits, with their dishes evaluated on creativity, technical execution, composure under pressure, decision-making and overall culinary excellence.
Favy’s triumph marks the conclusion of the inaugural season of MasterChef Nigeria, crowning her the country’s first-ever MasterChef Nigeria champion.
For their final assignment, the two home cooks were tasked with creating a three-course menu that reflected their culinary identity.
Before cooking began, Chef Stone encouraged them with a simple instruction: “Cook from your heart. Put yourself on the plate.”
Favy rose to the occasion with a menu that reflected confidence, technique and imagination.
For her starter, she served smoked salmon with potato mash and roasted bell pepper soup.
Her carefully curated menu impressed the judges with its balance of flavour, presentation and storytelling, ultimately earning her the title of Nigeria’s first MasterChef.
Her victory marked the culmination of one of the season’s most remarkable journeys.
Throughout the competition, she consistently demonstrated resilience, poise under pressure and an unwavering commitment to growth.
She also made history as the first contestant to win the MasterChef Nigeria Immunity Pin, a strategic advantage that proved pivotal in securing her place in the semi-finals.
In her remarks, she described the moment as a dream come true and dedicated the achievement to every aspiring home cook who believes that passion, perseverance and hard work can open extraordinary doors.
Since premiering on April 26, MasterChef Nigeria has captured the hearts of audiences across the country, celebrating the richness of Nigerian cuisine, while showcasing the incredible talent of everyday home cooks.
Over the course of 13 weeks, viewers watched contestants grow and evolve as they tackled pressure tests, mystery boxes, team challenges, and eliminations, showcasing the richness, creativity, and diversity of Nigeria’s culinary heritage.
Reflecting on the success of the inaugural season, Tamara van Eeckhoven, Managing Director of Primedia Africa and producer of MasterChef Nigeria, expressed her appreciation to the contestants, judges, headline sponsor Power
“MasterChef Nigeria was created to celebrate the nation’s extraordinary culinary talent and the response to this first season has been truly remarkable.
Favy’s journey embodies everything the competition stands for, including passion, resilience, creativity and excellence.
“We congratulate her and celebrate every contestant who inspired audiences throughout this unforgettable season,” van Eeckhoven said.
