By Faridat Salifu
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has endorsed a homegrown fortified garri and fish powder, describing them as groundbreaking solutions to malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria and across Africa.
The products, branded Omimi Wonder Garri and developed by Nigerian monarch and food entrepreneur, Eze (Dr.) Emma Saint George Ekeh, were showcased at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo hailed the innovations as “life-saving solutions that can nourish the nation and strengthen our people,” emphasizing the power of indigenous approaches to solving Africa’s nutrition challenges.
Omimi Wonder Garri, the first of its kind globally, is a cassava-based superfood fortified with 32 grams of protein per 100 grams and 35 essential vitamins and minerals.
According to its developers, it supports blood sugar regulation, pancreatic cell repair, immune function, cancer prevention, mental sharpness, and overall vitality, making it suitable for all age groups.
Obasanjo highlighted the potential of the fortified garri to be incorporated into military rations, school feeding programs, and humanitarian aid in IDP camps, calling it “food for the future, made for Nigerians, by Nigerians.”
The product has already drawn international attention, with growing demand in The Gambia, where it is stocked at the country’s only IVF hospital for its reported benefits in fertility and overall wellness.
Eze Ekeh said the innovation aims to redefine cassava’s role in African diets, transforming it into a protein-rich, life-sustaining resource that addresses widespread nutritional gaps.
Obasanjo pledged to promote the product globally, positioning it as a model of African-led innovation linking nutrition, health, and food security, and reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership in the development of functional foods.
