Food experts and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector have called for increased investment in indigenous food production to reduce import, tackle malnutrition and strengthen Nigeria’s food sovereignty.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders made the call at the opening of the 8th African Traditional Food Fair on Friday in Abuja.
The food fair, also known as, Mba’Apostoli Food Festival, is holding from Oct. 16 to Oct. 17 at the FCT Exhibition Pavilion as part of activities to commemorate the 2026 World Food Day.
It has the theme, “Food for Tomorrow: Reviving Indigenous Foods for Healthy Living, Climate-Resilient and Food-Secure Nigeria”.
According to the stakeholders, there is urgent need to invest in local and traditional food systems to reduce heavy reliance on food imports, protect local agriculture, and improve national nutrition.
Mr Michael Terungwa, Executive Director, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), said Nigeria needed to prioritise local food systems and reduce dependence on imported food.
“The battle for food in Nigeria, and indeed Africa, is not just about producing enough food.
“It is about who controls what we grow, who controls what we eat, how our food system is managed, and who benefits from the food economy,” he said.
Terungwa said food sovereignty meant enabling farmers to earn a living, supporting local markets and encouraging Nigerians to value indigenous foods.
He said Nigeria imported food worth N7.6 trillion in 2025, adding that insufficient investment in local production had contributed to the country’s dependence on imported food.
Using palm oil as an example, Terungwa said Nigeria produced about 1.4 million tonnes annually against a demand of 2.5 million tonnes.
He said the production gap underscored the need for increased investment in local agriculture as Nigeria’s population continued to grow.
“If we cannot feed ourselves now that we are 230 million, what happens when we get to 400 million people?” he asked.
Terungwa said traditional crops and indigenous farming knowledge could support food production and help communities respond to climate change.
He urged state governments to invest in agricultural research and establish seed companies to preserve indigenous varieties and improve farmers’ access to locally adapted seeds.
“Every state in this country should have a seed company. Not just seed but traditional seeds to ensure that we continue to enjoy our food,” he said.
He warned that dependence on commercial seed suppliers could threaten food production if supplies became unavailable.
The executive director also urged Nigerians to patronise local food producers, saying spending on locally produced food helped retain economic value within the country.
In his keynote address, Dr Olumide Ojo, Strategy Director, Propcom+, said indigenous foods were important for nutrition, cultural identity and resilience to climate change.
According to him, Nigeria can improve food security and nutrition by combining traditional food knowledge with scientific research and modern innovation.
“My proposition is simple. At the end of this speech, we do not have to choose between heritage and innovation. We can innovate with our heritage,” he said.
Ojo said indigenous foods, including millet, sorghum, cowpeas, bambara nuts and local leafy vegetables, offered nutritional and agricultural benefits that deserved greater attention.
“Our heritage offers that range and diverse food aspects,” he said, referring to the nutritional benefits of indigenous foods.
He said diets based on limited food varieties could leave children deficient in essential nutrients, despite providing sufficient calories.
“A diet built on a narrow range of staples can fill the stomach and still leave children short of protein and micronutrients,” he said.
Ojo said several indigenous crops could help farmers adapt to changing weather conditions and uncertain rainfall patterns.
Earlier in her welcome address, Aveseh Asough, founder and convener of the festival , said the annual event began in Abuja in 2019 to reconnect people with their cultural roots through food.
She said ‘Mba’Apostoli’ yams, which inspired the original gathering, were small yams that fell from larger tubers during harvesting.
“As children, following our parents to the farms, we would be picking the little drop-offs from the yams and roast them in the fires and then eat them on the farms,” she said.
Asough said the gathering had grown from a celebration of ‘Mba’Apostoli’ yams into the African traditional food fair.
She said the event provided an opportunity to celebrate indigenous foods and preserve the stories and traditions associated with them.
The event featured goodwill messages from partners, a dance interlude, presentation of gifts to partners and the unveiling of the festival’s meal.(NAN)
