Author: Adewale Kupoluyi

Zobo drink is one of Nigeria’s most popular natural beverages, loved for its vibrant red colour, tangy taste, and refreshing qualities. Whether served at parties, sold by street vendors, or enjoyed at home, this flavourful drink has become a staple across the country.What is zobo drink?Zobo drink is a traditional Nigerian beverage made from dried hibiscus petals (commonly called zobo leaves in Nigeria). These petals are boiled with spices and natural flavourings to create a deep red, slightly sour drink that can be sweetened to taste. Globally, hibiscus drinks are known by different names, sorrel (Caribbean), bissap (West Africa), hibiscus…

Nigeria is home to many rich and flavourful traditional dishes, and among the most unique is ikokore. Popular among the Ijebu people of Ogun State, ikokore is a delicious water yam pottage known for its soft texture, rich aroma, and satisfying taste. Beyond being a beloved cultural meal, ikokore also plays an important role in supporting agriculture, local food production, and small-scale economic activities. Since its primary ingredient is water yam, a crop cultivated by many local farmers, the growing popularity of ikokore contributes directly to agricultural development and rural livelihoods.Ikokore is a traditional Nigerian dish made from grated water…

Pap, popularly known as Akamu or Ogi, is one of the most widely-consumed traditional foods in Nigeria. Loved for its smooth texture, mild sour taste, and nutritional value, pap has remained a staple breakfast meal in many Nigerian homes for generations. Whether served hot with akara, moi-moi, bread, or milk, pap is valued for being affordable, filling, and easy to digest. Beyond its role as a comfort food, pap also contributes significantly to agriculture and the local economy because it is made primarily from maize, a major crop cultivated across Nigeria.What is pap?Pap is a fermented cereal pudding made mainly…

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to raise N200billion in share capital for a proposed Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, as part of efforts to strengthen financial inclusion, support farmers, artisans and small businesses, and reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of economic growth. The disclosure was made during the North-West Zonal Engagement of the Ministerial Advocacy Tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria Share Capital Mobilisation and Cooperative Sector Digitalisation Drive, held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, Kaduna. Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi,…

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), in collaboration with AFAAS national chapters in Kenya (KEFAAS), Liberia (LIFAAS), Nigeria (NIFAAS), and Uganda (UFAAS) have launched a joint effort to explore how generative artificial intelligence (AI) can strengthen agricultural extension systems across Africa. The collaboration builds on IFPRI and AFAAS’s shared commitment to evidence-based innovation in agricultural advisory services. Through IFPRI’s Generative AI for Agriculture (GAIA) initiative, the partners are conducting design workshops to inform emerging AI applications that can support farmers and extension agents with timely, localised, and trusted information. These activities bring together, extension professionals, researchers,…

At first glance, the words “Deserting” and “Desertification” sound almost identical and together seem not to make any sense. Ironically, however, especially as intended here, they are the antagonists, who jointly tell us what we must do to save life on Earth. Sorry, let me explain. It was my elementary school Mathematics teacher, who first taught me that when a negative number is multiplied by another negative, the resulting answer must be positive. This, I had to concede later, isn’t a conspiracy. If it were, it would never have been corroborated by our English teacher. The two core-subjects’ teachers were…

The Federal Government has inaugurated a Technical Working Group on Agricultural Produce Residue Standards to address recurring export rejections of Nigerian agricultural commodities arising from non-compliance with Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and other sanitary and phytosanitary requirements. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of efforts to strengthen food safety systems and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and international agricultural markets. This was contained in a statement issued following the inauguration ceremony, held at the ministry’s conference room in Abuja. According to the minister, the inauguration marked another significant milestone in the Federal Government’s commitment…

Nigeria’s agriculture sector appears to be brimming with more opportunities for foreign investors, and from mechanisation to dairy and food processing. Wait a minute. The same market that promises scale and demand also presents real challenges. For international farmers and agribusinesses eyeing Nigeria, understanding these hurdles and the government’s push to address them is key to turning potentials into profit. Insecurity remains the most immediate threat to agricultural investment. Attacks on farms and disruptions along rural supply routes have weakened food distribution and driven up rural inflation to 16.36%, going by official statistics. Foreign investors cite security risks as a…

In a move to strengthen Nigeria’s food security drive, the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority and the National Agricultural Development Fund have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at expanding access to agricultural machinery through structured leasing arrangements. The agreement was signed in Abuja by the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of ELRA, Donald Wokoma, and the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim. In a statement issued by ELRA’s Head of Media and Corporate Communication, Adebola Sunday, the partnership is designed to improve access to tractors, harvesters, irrigation systems, processing equipment, and other agricultural assets for farmers, cooperatives, and agribusiness operators. The statement quoted Wokoma as saying…

The State of Israel has disclosed that it has ongoing agricultural cooperation with Nigeria, noting that Israeli technology and seedlings are already being deployed by Nigerian farmers. Speaking in Abuja during Israel’s 78th Independence Anniversary celebration, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said Israeli companies are already operating in Nigeria. He added that while the seeds being planted were Israeli’s and supported by Israeli technology, the land and workers remained Nigerian. He added that the cooperation between both countries was expanding across innovation, agriculture, healthcare, security, education, and skills development, describing the initiatives as investments in a shared future. “When…