Makoko, Hunger and Why We Must Re-think Food Waste

Makoko is a slum neighborhood located in Lagos,Nigeria with a present population considered to be around 85,000. It is basically a self governing community with very limited government presence and security and the level of poverty and hunger in the floating slum is of high pitch. To mark its annual World Food Day hunger awareness campaign for 2013, FoodClique Support Initiative, a non-governmental organization focused on hunger alleviation and food sustainability distributed meals to several thousands of the Makoko slum community including children, women and the aged. This year’s theme was “Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition” and with the social inequality currently being experienced in today's world, thoughts needed to be given towards bridging the gap between the haves and haves not. Some Makoko citizens, having been fed nutritiously ultimately wished everyday was world food day citing no clue as to their next meal for the next day. Thus, with situations as such, the issue of food waste comes to bear as Nigeria's current population of 160 million people has a sizable number of individuals faced with the makoko food struggle for survival.


It is a known fact today that most of the food produced worldwide are wasted due to poor storage management and in the coming months, droughts, flood, and situations like the current typhoon haiyan crisis in the philippines require a dedicated approach towards nutritious food provision in the form of supplements or intervention.  In the United States alone, 40 million tons of food is wasted each year, while United Kingdom families still throw away £60 worth of food each month all sufficiently  enough to lift almost a billion people out of hunger worldwide. The need to take practical actions aiming at reducing food waste and its consequences cannot be overemphasized as responsibility lies in each family(not the government) to reflect always and save to ensure a world where everyone has enough to eat. In a recent assessment, crop damage and food loss in Nigeria has expectedly scaled due to the 2012 flood crisis and it is now reported that 2013 staple food production is currently on a 12% low. For a country where almost half its population live below the poverty level, these statistics are not only alarming but portend devastating consequences.

We often talk about the need to produce more food and develop agriculture to end hunger, but we also have to find ways to waste less of the food that is already available. Doing this requires making informed decisions about our current "owambe" lifestyle, and being conscious of the food choices we make. Curbing food waste in Nigeria requires an effort from every of us citizens be it at home, in the supermarket, the farm, hotel or a canteen so long food is being consumed and prepared. Agreeably, food waste at times could be unavoidable, but if we all decide to always buy what we need, serve a satisfactory amount, freeze the remainder and use up leftovers, we're well on our way towards ensuring a reduction in the 1.3 billion tonnes of good food lost every year. Taking a hard stance at food waste in Nigeria has to be a culture we must develop, as it would enable us become more responsible and be able to share with the teeming millions who have got no food. There's no reason not to change.

For us at "FoodClique", the awareness to discourage food waste continues with appeals to food businesses, agencies and parastatals involved in food consumption and preservation to collaborate and heighten concerted efforts and campaigns  towards  citizenry enlightenment on the need to save resource and eat sustainably. In a recent statement by the Leader of the catholic faith -Pope Francis, He said “We should all remember, however, that throwing food away is like stealing from the tables of the poor, and the hungry”. A food production, conservation, donation, and distribution culture must be cultivated thus as the significant value of food today must be respected and as such, food waste frowned at so as to ensure a sustainable future of prosperity for Nigerians.

15 Nuggets to Becoming Better Nigerians in 2012

I was having a conversation during the holiday season with a friend and He pointed out to Me that Nigeria should just get better regardless and oblivious of those at the helm of affairs. Paraphrasing His words thus 'I really don't care who leads but let Us just get better'.

His speech made Me think for a moment there. We have lofty expectation for Our leaders as it is easy for Us to criticize from afar yet We take no action of Our own. We prefer living the vacuum life than doing something worthwhile. This year I'm suggesting We strive to become better citizens as We uphold Our Nations' Unity.
Here are 15 apt Ways to do so:

1) By serving sacrificially | Thr is no better gift than that of serving selflessly. The practice of servant leadership is deliberate & meticulous but the reward is Great.

2) Let Ur 'Yes' mean 'Yes' & Ur 'No' mean 'No' | Say what you mean & stick to it. Be honest with others and don't make promises you can't keep. Our Leaders in Nigeria didn't start stealing when they got into office,it began long before that. Build yourself.

3) Give Freely | No matter how bad things are for you this year, I can guarantee its worse for someone out there. Giving opens doors hitherto closed.

4) Get engaged in the election process | Run for office or Support a candidate with action and credibility. Protest peacefully if need be. It is easy to complain about the process but much harder to do something about it.

5) Debate with facts not insults | By way of insults or derogatory remarks,you've lost any argument. Make this year a new leaf by using Facts. This majorly goes out to fellow #OccupyNigeria dissenters. Learn the art of persuasion through valid arguments. Don't condemn.

6) Constructive Criticism | Criticize with sense this year by Making sure your criticism leaves the other party with something positive to aim and looking forward to.

7) The Golden Rule | Follow the Golden rule. Ask yourself if you want to be treated the way you treat others. Do something to change this if 'No'.

8) Practice what you preach | The 'Do as I say & not as I do' philosophy nor dey work again. Easier said than done they say but its worth it. Practice what you profess.

9) Avoid mediocrity | Humble yourself more this year. Be the best at whatever you do as a Proud Nigerian citizen.

10) Demand Excellence | If you demand excellence more,then you've removed life's fears. Struggle to be better than yesterday as a Nigerian.

11) Relate with your kids more | Kids are thinkers & would want to share with you. Give them the opening. They could solve unresolved Nigerian cases for Us.

12) Lead | Never be a sheep in your community. A time to act should be your time! Decision making should not scare you. Transformer fixing,vigilante,community engagements and all. Be a Leader.

13) Encourage Someone | Till date,I've never found more kindness than kind words. Genuine kindness leaves a lasting impression. Give this.

14) Be an Agent For Change | Change is constant. Facilitate change and be open to it.

15) Admit Faiings | We all have them and cannot learn from them by acting as if they don't exist. You won't win every argument so its best you give in to some.

The beautiful Intelligent and Legal Nigerian is what We all could be this year!. These tips may not be encompassing but it is a step in the right direction. You can follow Me @Eghosakruz on twitter to share ideas on Our country.

Premium Times - Petrol to sell for N97 a litre, says Jonathan

Premium Times - Petrol to sell for N97 a litre, says Jonathan

The Malaria Scourge.

Malaria, according to the advanced oxford dictionary is a mosquito
borne intermittent and remittent fever endemic to warmer regions and
caused by a protozoan parasite (plasmodium). As we all know,its effect
is caused by mosquito bites. The female anopheles mosquito carries the
malaria parasite and injects it into your body anytime it bites you.

Not so many people in developed countries know about malaria because
it is not that common there. However, almost every Nigerian and
African knows malaria and how it kills people. The climate and
topography in Nigeria supports mosquito presence and as such, it is a
disease common in this tropical region of the world. According to the
World Health Organization, malaria kills faster than HIV/AIDS though
not as deadly as it is. 90% of all malaria deaths occur in Africa with
60% involving Nigeria. The menace of mosquito bite on the human flesh
especially children from 0-10, according to World Health Organization
reports, causes One death every 35 seconds in sub-Saharan Africa.

A visit to hospitals around clearly reveals that majority of Nigerians
are under the spell of malaria fever. I have suffered from malaria
several times but still living because there are several anti-malaria
drugs out there to cure malaria. The problem that occur is that
sometimes the malaria parasite develops immunity towards those drugs
so that the drugs don't work again and that is why malaria is very
dangerous and people still die because the parasite has developed
immunity.

Most adults in Nigeria and Africa have developed some immunity towards
the malaria parasite and survive mosquito bites. However, most
children have not yet developed that immunity towards the parasite and
that is why malaria continues to kill children in record numbers but
not adults. Another problem also is that, those living in rural areas
where there are no hospitals and no health centres to get
anti-malarial drugs and treatment often die.

SYMPTOMS OF MALARIA:

The symptoms of malaria include:
1) Feverish conditions.

2) High blood pressure.

3) Loss of appetite, Diarrhoea.

4) Muscle aches, Nausea, Cough.

5) Sweating that repeats every one,two or three days are typical.

6) Yellowing of the skin (jaundice).

7) And in some severe cases,dizziness.

WAYS TO PREVENT MALARIA:

There are several ways also One can prevent malaria attacks but
however the most effective and recommended is the use of treated
MOSQUITO BED NETS. Sleeping with mosquito nets prevents mosquitoes
from getting closer to your body.
Other ways are by clearing the bushy areas around one's house as that
destroys mosquito's breeding place. Insecticides also help to kill
mosquitoes.

The One Child One Net Agency is a public-spirited organization engaged in the protection of children against mosquito bites and malaria. This arose from the need to help curb malaria deaths along with the United Nations by 2015. We'll solve malaria cases and challenges through distribution of cost-effective, innovative and scientifically oriented insecticidal treated nets.

We'll give it out at little or no cost in addition to helping school wards grow morally by organizing seminars effectively driven at building sound character.

Me and My Favourite Food : World Food Day!

Nigeria is a nation blessed with numerous meal delicacies and in all
this, I find One always mouth-watering,luscious and palatable; Starch
and Banga. It is my favourite food.

Starch and Banga soup is the food known to those that come from the
South-south of Nigeria especially the Urhobos. It is known to be one
of the most expensive soup of the Urhobos. In the preparation of
Banga, the seeds are washed thoroughly and put in a pot to cook for
about 20 minutes, the water is then drained from the pot and the
already cooked seed is put in a mortar and pummeled slightly. Much
muscle is not exerted while pounding and little water is added at
interval to soften the pounds of the banga now liquid already. The
liquid is thereafter sieved back into the pot to boil under close
watching because it foams as it boils and thus may spill over the pot.
When foaming has died down,choice of meat and fish is added along with
periwinkle. Vegetable,maggi and salt is then added to spice the taste.
Starch generally has a simple preparation. Dissolving the starch,
putting water, boiling water and mixing it to avoid particles.

I must confess that I am not a good cook, in fact I barely cook but I
don't go hungry. I've got a Super Mom who is passionate about My
Hunger alleviation plus friends and family who most times prepare
choice meals for Me. Recently I've written a great deal about Hunger and
people wonder why I bother, not being perturbed by this I believe
every act of kindness done on earth not only lends a smile but stores
up Heavenly treasures. Hunger and food as different terms are relative
to Man. With Nigeria blessed with different delicacies that are not
only tasteful but healthy, it is a misnomer for one to go hungry.

Bolajoko Diosamame Fadipe and His FoodClique members recently
researched and found out that 1 in 7 Nigerians go to bed Hungry
without food that day. What a contradiction I thought owing to the
truth I eat very well daily and even waste food as a result of over
feeding. Most times even, I eat starch and banga soup twice in a day
yet people go to bed in Nigeria without food. Summation of their
analysis reveals that a staggering 22,857,143 Nigerians sleep without
meals and have no hope of it. How many must have died I pondered. I
have always considered truthful the fact that every act of compassion
makes a difference to someone. We can end hunger if we chose to come
as ONE and Fight it. There are genuinely sufficient resources in the
world to ensure that no one, nowhere, and at no time,should go hungry.
Bolajoko Fadipe and FoodClique through personal resources aim at
ending this hunger tragedy and I am fortunate to be part. Hunger, or
under nutrition, results from the insufficient intake of macro- and
micro- nutrients. It can lead to chronic malnutrition or the severe
wasting associated with acute malnutrition, why then should We allow
Fellow human beings go through such trauma.

October 16th is World Food Day and Food and Agricultural
Organization/FoodClique are ensuring No One goes Hungry on that day.
Bola and His friends are giving out food, materials and resources to
Hunger enriched individuals and areas across Nigeria. You too can help
by feeding someone on that day. Hunger makes a thief of any man and
helping with a nutritionally spiced up diet on the day is a boost for
social life. I've written on issues concerning hunger before and in My
findings, people pay less attention and pensiveness to it as they
believe that hunger is unavoidable in any society, even a society that
is blessed with great abundance. That is not true. The European
community today does not have hunger widespread. Most of Our citizenry
believe also that hunger only affects people who are lazy or people
who are just searching for a handout, people who don't want to work,
but, sadly, THAT IS NOT TRUE. Over one-third of our hungry people are
innocent children who are members of households that simply cannot
provide enough food or proper nutrition, some live only on the paltry
#18000 in Nigeria. And to think of the elderly suffering from
malnutrition is just too hard for most of us.

FoodClique will be marking this year's World Food Day by embarking on
a community Food outreach to feed Our hungry neighbours. The aim of
the day is to create public awareness about the problems faced by
people who struggle for food despite its abundance in the world. The
World Food Day was proclaimed in 1979 by the Conference of the Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It marks the date of the founding
of FAO in 1945. The purpose of that day heightens public awareness of
the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle
against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. In 1980, the General
Assembly endorsed observance of the Day in consideration of the fact
that "food is a requisite for human survival and well-being and a
fundamental human necessity". I have given to this cause and I enjoin
you to.

Why allow Fellow Nigerians go hungry when We have the best weather in
Africa to grow seed and arable crops?, Why don't you distribute food
to the hungry people?. You can make a difference by lending a smile.

Food aid as we know is not a sustainable solution to World
hunger,though there are emergency situations between life and death
where Food is needed and critical for survival. For the 22 million
Hungry Nigerians, hunger is a daily, sometimes life-long, reality.
People living with persistent hunger require and deserve a sustainable
solution based on self-reliance. Some of the ways to ensure long term
food security to me is by emphasizing on rural development by enabling
Men and Women to tackle and eradicate Hunger from their communities.
Increment in local production and provision of farming tools and
equipments such as fertilizers to aid harvesting are among others.
Endeavour to make someone smile on the 16th of October as you make the
difference; Feed!.

Musings Of An Insane Nigerian: Happy Birthday Compatriots!

Musings Of An Insane Nigerian: Happy Birthday Compatriots!: For Us as an independent and sovereign people,We turn 51 today and I am so glad; Not necessarily because of the togetherness or survival des...

Happy Birthday Compatriots!

For Us as an independent and sovereign people,We turn 51 today and I am so glad; Not necessarily because of the togetherness or survival despite bickerings or maladministration,It is the assertion that We've surpassed expectations of many and grown steadily with Our way of life.

To Me, It calls for celebrations, We should 'party hard' but still be pensive about where we should be headed as a Nation. Looking back and peeking ahead, There's more to fight for to become better.
Despite enormous resources at Our disposal, No Clean water, No constant electricity, No good roads as We now have world class morgues as roads, Our Politicians have used Us for their campaigns of calumny and even recycle us for the same use. In all this, We're still ONE.
I Love My country Nigeria and its People so dearly, I really do not know about you. Some of the ways include;
1) Nigeria is a nation blessed with rich human and natural resources, We're the 7th largest producer of Oil in the World, No tsunamis,No earthquakes, No droughts, This is God's Own Country as the Land is Evergreen.

2) Nigeria and Nigerians always show appreciation for good deeds and value. Awards of merit such as Order of the Niger (OON), Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) are given to deserving Nigerians who distinguish themselves here and beyond.

3) Nigerians are a happy people and extend such with pomp and pageantry. If you've ever been with a True Nigerian, You'll get fatigued. We transcend Our hospitality culture and its appreciated and noted the world over.

4) Nigerians, despite Our diversity are a United people who always strive to help one another, We suffer but We don't break. Over 200 Ethnic groups, 774 Local Government areas, 36 states, More than 160million people, We remain steadfast together to ensure National development.

5) Nigerians are survivors. They strive to break walls. A Nigerian is not hard to spot the world over,He/She keeps body and soul together in any clime. Our Black skin makes Us adapt to the toughest of situations.

If You're a Nigerian and A Proud One Like Me, Give a Huge shoutout today!.
Its OUR CELEBRATION...One People We'll remain!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Y'ALL.