News

Nigerian Food Festival: Resonating Campaign Against GMOs

Published

1 year ago

November 27, 2024

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

The National Convergence and Food Festival may have come and gone, but its echoes of joy, vibrant cultural display continue to resonate in the hearts of those who were in attendance. Hosted by a foremost environmental advocacy organisation – Health of Mother Health Foundation (HOMEF) – in the heart of the ancient Benin City, the event was more than a festival; it was a celebration of identity, tradition and the diversity of Nigeria’s culture.

The festival’s schedule was a mosaic of events designed to cater for everyone. From the scintillating dancing steps of the Benin traditional dancers, matched with beats from the drummers, and the theatrical performances, the diversity in unity was staggering. Cultural troupes from the South-East and the performance by students of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Benin, were both educational and entertaining, drawing cheers and applause from attendees.

Organic Nigerian local food In exhibition

Other side attractions of the food festival were poetry; exhibition of organically-produced raw foods; panel of discussion segment where discussants emphasised the need for the consumption of local foods and the nutritional values inherent in such local foods. Discusants also exposed attendees to the dangers of consuming GMO foods. At the panel of discussion segment, the discusants all attributed prevalent of terminal diseases in the society to the type of food many particularly young ones consume.

Resource persons at the event also urged those in attendance to watch what they took into their stomachs, warning that they are what they take into their stomachs. The resource persons who spoke one after the other, urged Nigerians to embrace and promote locally made food, saying they’re the best.

Benin cultural troupes performing at the food festival.

The festival climaxed with different local food from the length and breadth of the country. The prepared local foods were dished to attendees in a well coordinated manner.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Executive Director, HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, said it was critical to have “a festival of this nature” because it is an avenue to display Nigeria’s diverse cultures.

“Our local foods are being threatened in Nigeria. In fact, in Africa, we are having all strange varieties being imported into our countries. So, there is need to promote our local food above this GMO foods,” he said.

Penel of discussion discussing the dangers in GMO foods, and the advantage of eating local food.

The Executive Director, who expressed concern over the push for GMO foods into the country, and how the existence of the nation’s local food is being threatened, declared his organisation’s opposition to GMO foods in the country.

“We are concerned especially by the push into the country of genetically modified foods. We are completely against GMOs. Many claims by those who promote GMOs are all false. GMOs don’t produce more than conventional crops. They are not as healthy as natural crops, and they are not natural.”

He added: “We will continue our campaign against GMO because those who are promoting it are all concerned about money, the profit,” he said.

Igbo cultural troupes performing at the food festival.

It is worth noting that GMO is a plant or microorganism that has been subjected to biotechnology. GMO developers use biotechnology to alter an organism’s fundamental characteristics.

Also, in her welcome speech, Joyce Brown, the chairman, local organising committee of the festival who also doubles as Program Director, HOMEF, said the event was aimed at celebrating the diversity of Nigeria’s foods.

She, therefore, joined her voice with that of Bassey to “call on our government to put a halt to whatever decision threatening this local food.”

Theatre Arts performance.

News

NAF Launches Attack On Terrorists In Borno

Published

1 hour ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, operating as part of the joint task force of Operation Hadin Kai, has carried out a coordinated air interdiction at AbbagaJiri in the Timbuktu Triangle, Borno State.

According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, the air strikes successfully paved the way for ground troops.

He explained that the operation was based on actionable intelligence from multiple sources, which confirmed the presence of terrorists, their structures, and concealed logistics facilities in the area.

Ejodame stated that NAF air assets were deployed in integrated surveillance and precision strike roles to target identified threats.

The operation aimed to degrade terrorist capabilities, deny them sanctuary, and shape the battlefield for ground forces, all while strictly adhering to rules of engagement and protecting civilians.

He added, “The Identified terrorist structures were decisively engaged and destroyed, denying the terrorists freedom of action, while a follow-up engagement neutralised armed elements observed converging on the location.”

“Subsequent advances by ground troops into the area confirmed the effectiveness of the air strikes and validated the success of the joint air–land operation.”

Speaking on the mission, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, said, “The success of the mission reflects the NAF’s resolve to dominate the air domain in support of joint operations.”

Aneke further emphasized that the operation highlighted the service’s commitment to providing precise and decisive air power in support of ground forces.

In his words, “We will continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement, sanctuary, and logistics wherever they seek to hide. Air operations will remain relentless and intelligence-driven.”

“Our operations are carefully planned and intelligence-led, ensuring maximum effect on hostile elements while safeguarding innocent civilians.”

“The Nigerian Air Force will sustain pressure until terrorist networks are completely dismantled.”

He further noted that the operation showcased NAF’s aggressive stance, precision employment of airpower, and dedication to sustained joint operations.

Aneke added that such missions play a crucial role in enabling ground troops to maintain momentum and deliver decisive outcomes against terrorist networks threatening lives, property, and Nigeria’s national security.

News

Lagos Parks To Close For Maintenance – State Govt

Published

1 hour ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK, has announced that all public parks under its management across the state will be temporarily closed for routine maintenance and upgrades.

In a statement released on January 9 and shared via its official platforms early Saturday, LASPARK said, “All parks under our management will be closed to the public from January 12 to January 31, 2026.

“This follows increased visitor activity during the recent festive season.”

The agency listed several popular recreational spots that will be affected, including “Ndubisi Kanu Park, Alausa JJT Park, Dr. Finnih Abayomi Park in Oregun, and all other LASPARK-managed parks across Lagos State.”

News

PAP Sends Additional 34 Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship Beneficiaries To UK Varsities

Published

16 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has deployed an additional 34 foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries to various universities in the United Kingdom for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri by Mr Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator, PAP.

According to the statement, the scholars’ programmes include data science, fintech analytics, cyber security, international energy law and policy, construction project management, public health, agri-food technology, electrical and petroleum engineering, among others.

The statement added that more foreign post-graduate scholars will be sent to UK universities in the current academic session.

“In December 2025, nine students, who were the first set of offshore post-graduate scholarship developments by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic year, graduated from their various programmes in UK universities.

“Otuaro has deployed over 9000 students to universities within and outside Nigeria for different industry-relevant programmes since he assumed office in March 2024,” the statement partly reads.

Speaking at the pre-departure orientation programme for the scholars at the PAP headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, Otuaro said that the large-scale deployment was aimed at making the Niger Delta a knowledge-driven region.

He said that his leadership reinvigorated the programme to give it a new momentum in service delivery to the people of the region based on the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.

Otuaro said, “We are sending all of you for post-graduate studies in various universities in the United Kingdom.

“The PAP now has a new momentum and direction because of the repositioning and broad reforms that we carried out in line with the mandate of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

“The objective behind the huge scholarships deployment is to ensure that we develop the needed human capital to transform the Niger Delta and generate knowledge-wealth.

“We want to develop relevant manpower in critical disciplines for our region and by extension, the country, because you are expected to contribute your quota to national development after successful graduation.”

The PAP boss, who was represented at the event by his Technical Assistant, Mr Edgar Biu, advised the scholars to study hard to achieve academic excellence in their various fields of research.

According to him, the scholars have an obligation to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education and future.

He reiterated his warning that beneficiaries should not take for granted the opportunity to further their academic pursuits in the interest of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.

Otuaro expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his “enormous interest and support for the Programme”, particularly the approval of an upward review of the programme’s budget from N65billion to N150billion.

He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his impeccable guidance and supervision of the programme’s initiatives.

Otuaro, therefore, cautioned the scholars to obey their host country’s laws and the rules and regulations of their various institutions, stressing that they are ambassadors of Nigeria, the Niger Delta and their communities and families.

Highpoint of the orientation programme was the presentation of laptops to the scholars to help them in their studies.