The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has launched a new national initiative to encourage Nigerians to produce and consume more fermented foods.
The program, carried out in partnership with the Sight and Life Foundation (SAL), was introduced at a workshop in Lagos as part of ongoing efforts to address malnutrition and food insecurity.
Speaking at the event, Zouera Youssoufou, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ADF, said fermentation has long been part of African food culture and remains one of the most reliable ways to preserve and improve food quality.
She explained that research carried out by Sight and Life shows that fermented foods contribute to better nutrition and can be adapted to suit Nigeria’s food systems.
Youssoufou said the Foundation is working to combine local food traditions with modern food processing methods to improve the nutritional value of traditional dishes without changing their familiar taste.
She also said that ADF has compiled a national list of fermented foods to support producers and encourage innovation in the food industry.
Dr Mairo Mandara, Africa Adviser at Sight and Life, said fermented foods provide health benefits through their probiotic content, which supports the immune system and helps the body absorb nutrients.
She added that fermentation can also reduce food waste by keeping perishable items fresh for longer.
Mandara explained that with global hunger still affecting hundreds of millions of people, fermented foods represent an affordable and practical way to improve diets in Nigeria and other developing countries.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs Ladidi Bako Aiyegbusi, Director of Nutrition, called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners and the private sector.
She said that the revised National Food and Nutrition Policy encourages Nigerians to eat a more varied diet that includes nutrient rich local foods such as fermented products containing iron and zinc.
Dr Francis Aminu, Director of Health and Nutrition at ADF, said the initiative draws inspiration from the report titled Fermentation: The Ancient Solution to Modern Challenges.
He stated that with 40 percent of Nigerian children affected by stunting, improving access to nutritious local foods has become urgent.
Aminu added that ADF will continue to work with partners to promote nutrition, strengthen food systems and support communities to achieve better health outcomes.
