Author: Adewale Kupoluyi
IntroductionEgusi soup is more than just food, it’s a cultural treasure and comfort dish loved across Nigeria and West Africa. Made from ground melon seeds (egusi), palm oil, vegetables, and proteins, this hearty soup is usually paired with swallows like pounded yam, eba, or other ‘swallows’. Whether you’re enjoying it at a wedding, family gathering, or lunch, egusi soup always brings warmth and satisfaction. Sit back and relax while we cover everything you need to know about egusi soup, its cultural significance, regional variations, nutritional value, cooking methods, and even a simple recipe you can try at home.What is egusi soup?Egusi soup…
President Bola Tinubu has called on a Federal Executive Council committee to move swiftly and implement measures to further reduce food prices across the country in order to bring succour to all citizens. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja while presenting a paper at a one-day capacity-building workshop, organised by the Senate Press Corps.According to him, the directive focuses on ensuring the safe passage of agricultural produce and commodities across transport routes to cut logistics costs that often drive up prices, saying the plan is tied to Tinubu’s broader vision of food…
The Federal Government has cautioned farmers and food vendors against using harmful substances to process and preserve food, stressing the grave health risks to consumers.The Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Olatunji Bello, gave the warning at a One-Day Sensitisation Programme on Forced Palm Oil, Ripening of Fruits, Contaminated Meat and Grains in Enugu.Addressing farmers, food processors, vendors, and business owners, Bello described them as critical stakeholders in the nation’s food security and public health, urging them to avoid harmful chemicals in food processing, uphold hygiene standards at every stage of production, and ensure proper labeling…
The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), has launched the Kadawa Mechanisation Centre in the Garun Malama Local Government Area of Kano State while the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has said it would commence the mapping of shea tree areas in the country. The mechanisation centre, which is one of the three agricultural mechanisation hubs in Kano State, is aimed at boosting productivity and reducing the drudgery of farming in one of the country’s most important food-producing states. The intervention is launched under auspices of the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) with funding from the state government, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)…
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria, has held a Northcentral zonal consultative forum for the review of the National Gender Policy in Agriculture and its Strategic Plan of Action (2025-2030). The forum, which was organised by ActionAid Nigeria with support from AGRA, GIZ and Care International, brought together stakeholders from the government, civil society, women farmers’ groups, youth networks, and development partners to Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, where it was held. Speaking during the one-day sensitisation meeting, the Director, Special Duties at the Ministry, Kachalla Damaturu, stated that the forum was held in…
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations is organising a poster competition in commemoration of the 2025 World Food Day. The contest is open to children and youths between the ages of five and 19, living anywhere in the world. The announcement was posted on the FAO official X page, explaining that posters can only be submitted using the entry form provided, and each person can submit only one entry. It added that posters can be drawn, painted, sketched, or made with mixed media or digital tools, stating that photographs, AI-generated content are not allowed, but can be used for ideas…
The National Association of Shea Products of Nigeria (NASPAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to grant a 90-day grace period following its recent ban on the export of raw shea nuts.It would be recalled that the Nigerian government, on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, issued a directive for a temporary ban on the export of raw Shea Nuts, effective immediately, saying the decision aimed to regulate the current export activities and possibly enhance local processing and value addition within the country.The temporary ban is seen as part of broader efforts to boost local industries, safeguard critical agricultural resources, and promote economic growth…
The Federal Government has unveiled the Nigeria Post-harvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST), an initiative aimed at building a resilient, efficient, and inclusive post-harvest handling and storage system across the country.The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, announced the programme at the Nigeria Legacy Programme, organised by the Africa Food Systems Forum in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in Dakar, Senegal, saying the initiative is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises poverty eradication, food and nutrition security, and sustainable economic growth.According to him, NiPHaST will focus on household-level storage technologies, community warehouses,…
In an effort to bring lasting peace to farmers-herders relations and sustain the cordial relationship between Fulani communities and their host settlements, the Council of Fulani Chiefs of South West Nigeria, has rolled out measures aimed at curbing insecurity in the region, extending also to Kwara State in Northcentral Nigeria. This was contained in an address delivered by the Chairman of the Council and Sarki Fulani of Lagos, Mohammed Bambado II, during a world press conference, held in Lagos. Bambado II announced that the council had unanimously agreed to impose an absolute ban on night grazing, underage herding, and the carrying of…
