Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice President Monday weighed in on the Jollof rice debate by declaring that Nigeria makes the best jollof rice in the world.
Prof. Osinbajo spoke at The Platform, a programme organised by the covenant Christian centre to mark the workers May day celebration.
It will be recalled that Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s Information Minister why responding to a question from CNN’s Richard Quest had said that Senegal makes the best Jollof rice, a response that was later modified by the minister.
Although Quest defended the minister, saying the minister did not hear his question correctly, the incident sparked off unpleasant reactions on social media among a cross-section of Nigerians.
Osinbajo said:“And by the way, we all know that Nigerian jollof rice is the best, we beat the Ghanaians and the Senegalese hands down.”
“We have everything, and our people are doing incredibly innovative things.
“Our music and entertainment industry is the fastest growing in the world, and of course, nobody is as funny as Nigerians, whether professional or amateur,” he noted.
“Last year Oluyinka Olutoye, a Nigerian surgeon successfully took out a baby from her mother’s womb, operated on the womb, and put the baby back in.
“The baby was carried full term and was born naturally — a feat previously unheard of.
“Only last year, a Nigerian girl Morolake Akinosun won a gold medal at the Olympics.
“Last Saturday, a Nigerian boxer Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua won the WBA, becoming the boxing champion of the world.”
Jollof rice is a staple meal among Africans, however over the years, Nigerians, Ghanaians, Senegalese and other African countries have claimed to make the best of the meal.