• Offers solution to malnutrition, food insecurity
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerian leaders to prioritise integrity, long-term thinking and strengthening of institutions to achieve national development.
He maintained that strengthening institutions was not necessarily personality, stating that true progress is achieved when institutions are resilient, transparent and accountable.
He made the call on Tuesday at the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) Lagos Award Night, where he emphasised the need for honesty, courage and a commitment to national interest above short-term or partisan gain.
He also highlighted the importance of mentoring young Nigerians for promoting unity and ensuring a resilient and accountable system. Obasanjo, at the event, was honoured with the Special Recognition Award for his pioneering role in establishing the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) 47 years ago.
Addressing members of the alumni association, the ex-leader said the institute was created in the belief that Nigeria would benefit from the deliberate, trained, and principled core of men and women committed to long-range thinking, sound policy, and patriotism.
Chairman of AANI Lagos, Omolara Balogun, said the awards were designed to celebrate individuals who exemplify the association’s commitment to building a better society through responsible leadership, ethics and community impact.
She said the goal was to make a positive difference and impact in society, with a view to working towards a better society, adding that the association remains committed to offering thought-led solutions, strengthening partnerships, and recognising members who consistently uphold the ideals of the national institute through their professional and personal conduct.
ALSO, the ex-president has endorsed the adoption of fortified, homegrown food innovations as strategic tools to combat malnutrition and nutrition-related ailments across Nigeria and Africa.
The endorsement comes amid growing reports of widespread hunger, poor nutrition, and food insecurity, worsened by conflicts and displacement in several parts of the continent.
Obasanjo, who threw his weight behind Omimi Wonder Garri and Fish Powder, two fortified food products developed by Nigerian monarch and food-preneur Eze (Dr.) Emma Saint George Ekeh described them as “life-saving innovations that can nourish the nation, strengthen our people, and support our fight against hunger and insecurity.”
He spoke yesterday during a presentation at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, where he commended the initiative by Omimi4U Farms Ltd, noting that it demonstrates the power of indigenous innovation to address Africa’s most pressing health and food challenges.
Nigeria faces one of the highest burdens of malnutrition in Africa, with millions of children under five suffering from stunted growth and micronutrient deficiencies. The situation has been worsened by insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts, which continue to disrupt farming activities, food supply chains, and livelihoods — especially in northern Nigeria.
Developed by Eze Ekeh, Omimi Wonder Garri, the first of its kind in the world, is a fortified cassava-based product containing 32 grams of protein per 100 grams and 35 essential vitamins and minerals, qualifying it as a superfood by global nutrition standards.
