- Filmmaker Onyeka Nwelue has sparked controversy when saying Nigerians “winned the Nobel Prize while cooking rice,” which has been widely portrayed in recent food-related recording attempts, such as Hilda Baci’s.
- His statement made mixed reactions with some who agreed with Nigeria, prioritizing false achievements, while others defended the cultural feat as a valuable form of recognition.
Nigerian filmmaker and writer Onyeka Nwelue has sparked debate online after criticizing the country’s priorities, comparing Nigeria’s obsession with food records with global knowledge achievements.
Criticize national priorities
In an article on social media, Nwelue said that Nigerians seem to care more about cooking competitions and food-related stunts than pursuing groundbreaking innovation or academic milestones.
He wrote: “Nigerians are busy cooking rice, while people from other countries have won the Nobel Prize.”
The review seems to mention recent high-profile food challenges, including the latest attempts from chef Hilda Baci’s record-breaking cooking hand athon and her biggest canned Jollof Rice.
Online mixing reaction
Nwelue’s remarks sparked a fierce reaction. Supporters agree with his criticism and point to Nigeria’s lag in science, research and global innovation rankings. Others defended the culinary feat, believing that celebrating food culture is equally valuable and providing international visibility.
Some commentators accuse Nwelue of dismissing Nigeria’s unique achievements and undermining the role of art, culture and entertainment in national construction.
