Rita Odafe
Ekiti’s notable chef, Chef Dammy, has kicked off her formal culinary training at a leading institution in Lagos.
She gained popularity during her cooking marathon in June 2023 and is now working toward a diploma in culinary arts, thanks to a full scholarship provided by Horecabb Mentors.
Excited about her new adventure, Chef Dammy shared her feelings on Instagram, donning her school uniform for the first time. She expressed, “My first time in school uniform as a proper pro. Chef in the making.”
Recalling her initial experience with the uniform, she mentioned, “I ran back into the hostel to go and blush. The moment I stepped out, people started recognizing me in my uniform—‘Chef Dammy, you look great!’ I couldn’t help but smile and took some selfies before getting back inside,” highlighting the kindness from her peers.
Chef Dammy also conveyed her appreciation to Nigerian food entrepreneur Oluwatobi Fletcher, known as Ofadaboy, Dr. Mekwuye Eric, CEO of Horecabb Mentors, and the local government for their assistance in her educational endeavors.
“A heartfelt thank you to ofadaboy and hbshotelschool_lagos for this opportunity. I also appreciate my amazing lawyer.
“I am deeply grateful to His Excellency, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, and Her Excellency, Dr. Yemi Oyebanji, for their steadfast support,” she mentioned.
“A big shoutout to all my anonymous supporters and to everyone cheering me on! A special thanks to my school mother #ekiskitchen_foods and everyone at HBS,” she added.
The scholarship initiative stems from a collaboration among HBS, Ofadaboy, and the Ekiti State Government, with contributions from the First Lady, Yemi Oyebanji.
This scholarship was first introduced during the Ofada Rice Day Festival in December 2024, with Dr. Mekwuye confirming in January that Chef Dammy would benefit from five extra complimentary courses through the HBSLagosScholarship “to fully equip her as a chef.”
More pictures follow:
