Food choices and preferences of people reflect their ancient heritage (ancient diet). Food habit of people depicts who they are as regard to diet and it is their identity. Take for instance upon meeting a young man in an African restaurant in the USA eating “ora soup” and “eba”, that shows that he is an Igbo man.

In the same restaurant, seeing another eating ‘ewedu soup” with “eba’, that shows that he is a Yoruba man and on seeing another eating starch and “owo soup”, you will conclude that he is from Niger Delta.

There was no formal introduction but their food has already expressed their origin. They are familiar with their indigenous foods, they know how to cultivate them, they know how to prepare them and they enjoy the meals containing them.

In the Western World, the major Nutritional problem is over-nutrition. This is as a result of the fact that carb foods are cheap and the poor segment of the population barely afford quality food hence their choice of high carbohydrate food which predisposes them to obesity.

In contrast, in developing World, their nutritional problem is multifactorial thereby leading to triple burden malnutrition. By triple burden, it means a situation whereby under-nutrition, over-nutrition and micronutrient malnutrition thrive in a given community.

In Nigeria for instance, the malnutrition suffered by the rich is over-nutrition (obesity), while the poor suffer from under-nutrition (underweight) and the naïve and ignorant suffer from micronutrient malnutrition (hidden hunger).

The best approach to conquer malnutrition in the developing World is through diet diversification which has a direct bearing on food security. To diversify diet, there is need to re-introduce all the underutilized foods that have gone extinct back to the table menu.

Underutilized foods are those foods with under-exploited potential for contributing to food security, health (nutritional and medicinal), income generation and environmental services. They are neglected and there is growing ignorance among the young people about the existence of these nutritionally rich food.

The reason for their under-exploitation are new discovery (technology of food processing), time to harvest from the forest, association with poverty and backwardness, and lack of knowledge about their nutritional and health implication.

A lot of underutilized foods has been identified through focus group discussion and stable isotope analysis (Nutrition Anthropology). Some underutilized vegetables include “erimmiri” Boerhavia diffuse, African tulip ‘ulumiri’ Spathodea campanulata, Bush marigold ‘Anwiniwa-ani’Aspilia Africana, gooseberry ‘Akpuru’ Phyllanthus debilis etc.

While some underutilized fruits include Hog plum “echikara” Spondian mombin, Black plum ‘mbembe’ Vitex doniana, African locust bean pulp ‘mkpuru ugba’ Parkia clappatoniana, among others

Dr. Nkemjika Umerah is a lecturer in the Department of Food Science and Technology, ESUT. Email: [email protected]

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A lecturer In the Department of Mass Communication, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT Mr Sebastine Okafor has resigned his membership of the Catholic Church.

Mr Sebastine’s resignation and denouncement of the church came after the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis approved blessing of same-sex couples by priests in the church.

Pope Francis formally approved letting Catholic priests bless same-sex couples, the Vatican announced Monday, a radical shift in policy that aimed at making the church more inclusive while maintaining its strict ban on gay marriage.

Announcing his resignation in a letter made available to ESUT Monitor, the young lecturer stated that the announcement by the Church prompted him to reevaluate his identity with the church adding that even though he respects the Church’s prerogative to evolve its stance, he found myself in fundamental disagreement with the recent shift in policy.

He declared that going forward, he considers myself a full-time traditionalist, standing by the principles and values of the religion

Read his letter below;

Declaration of Resignation from Catholic Church Membership

Dear Friends,

I am writing to formally inform the general public of my decision to denounce and resign from my membership in the Catholic Church in to to.

The recent declaration by Pope Francis allowing the blessing of same-sex couples has prompted deep reflection on my part. While I respect the Church’s prerogative to evolve its stance, I find myself in fundamental disagreement with this particular shift in policy.

My association with the Catholic Church has been a significant part of my identity, but I believe it is essential to align my beliefs with an institution that better reflects my values. Therefore, I am choosing to denounce my membership and disassociate myself from any connection with the Catholic Church until such time that the Church in Nigeria clarifies its position on this matter.

This decision does not diminish the respect I hold for those with differing views or beliefs. It is a personal choice, guided by the need for consistency between my convictions and the institutions I am associated with.

Henceforth, I consider myself a full-time traditionalist, standing by my principles and values.

Thank you for your understanding, and I appreciate the support and camaraderie we have shared within the Church.

Sincerely,

Sebastine Okafor (Bookastro)

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