society
Garri Day Festival Targets Unity, Diversity Through Food – Obani Boyede
Garri Day Festival Targets Unity, Diversity Through Food – Obani Boyede
Sahara Weekly Reports That Chief Obani Oluwabiyi Anthony Boyede Greenlyte, founder of Theatre Centrik and organiser of the 2024 African Food and Drinks Festival, Garri Day, revealed that the event was intentionally crafted to use food as a means of fostering national unity, cohesion, and diversity in Nigeria while addressing issues of ethnicity, tribalism, and disunity.
Boyede, a cultural advocate who also leads the Alimosho Arts Community Initiatives (AACI) in the Alimosho area of Lagos State, noted that the celebration would also contribute to development, as cohesion and unity are vital for national growth and advancement.
In an interview with THECONSCIENCE NG, the multi-talented thespian, traditionalist, cultural ambassador, and performance theatre icon shared insights during the annual event in Lagos over the weekend.
He reiterated his commitment to celebrating African culture with a special emphasis on Garri, a staple of African cuisine.
He stated, “The event was centered around cultural promotion and capacity building. We are celebrating the African Food and Drinks Festival, tagged Garri Day 2024. We leveraged the importance of food as a source of unity, bringing people together regardless of age or race, without discrimination, using Garri as a common denominator. We are promoting diversity across the nation. This is the 19th edition; we organise it year-round and promote our culture through various initiatives. We also host other cultural festivals under the Alimosho Arts Community Initiatives.”
Looking ahead, Boyede expressed his vision for the next five years: “We aim to establish an empire where children can acquire general academic knowledge alongside African culture. We envision a school that incorporates Ifa and the total culture of Africa alongside essential subjects. That’s why we have established the University of Kulture as an academic institution to drive this mission.”
The event was held in partnership with the Lagos State Tourism Board, the University of Kulture, Alimosho Arts Community Initiatives (AACI), and other esteemed organisations.
Regarding community acceptance, he shared, “This is a community-based programme, and we have seen great turnout, as evidenced by the attendance at our summer programme. Although financial support is limited, we are persevering. Participants are enjoying it and they remain enthusiastic.”
On the support from the state government, he praised Hon. Toke Benson, the Lagos State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, for her endorsement of the forthcoming cultural fest, which he described as the mother of all festivals, and will take place at the same venue on November 16-17 this year to conclude the year’s activities.
“Frankly, a lack of funding has been a long-standing challenge from the Lagos State government, but this year we have received their support, for which we are very grateful. We are moving forward and not slowing down.”
Temitope Ojubanire, the Garri Queen 2024, remarked on the festival’s impact on the community, stating, “The food and culture festival, Garri Day, has been amazing, evident in the quality of people who turned out.”
She added, “Garri is a beloved staple that transcends food. It is recognided globally, from America to Africa, and symbolises love, unity, and cultural heritage. That’s why we celebrate culture through Garri, a cherished food staple among various tribes in Nigeria, enjoyed in different forms, including Koro and eba.”
Discussing the children’s participation, she reflected, “Events like this create lasting memories not only for adults but for kids as well. Growing up, I remember attending events with my mother, where I learned invaluable lessons that continue to inspire me to give back to society.”
Approximately 1,000 children participated in dance, competitions, songs, and cultural activities, showcasing exhibitions from Yoruba, Igbo, Efik, South African cultures, and others.
Speaking further, Ojubanire said she plans to engage further with the community, meeting children and stakeholders to promote cultural awareness through Garri, advocating for love and humanity as a volunteer and one of the visionaries at the Alimosho Arts Community Initiatives (AACI) and University of Kulture.
The event, which held on August 24th, provided attendees with a day filled with cultural activities, including various Garri drinking and eba eating competitions, dance and drama performances, and numerous exhibitions.
The festival showcased a variety of Garri from across Africa, including Ijebu Garri with its fine texture and sweet taste, Ghanaian Garri with its spiced blend, Cameroonian Garri known for its crunchy texture and rich aroma, and traditional Nigerian Garri.
In addition to the culinary delights, the event featured a lineup of notable guests, including veteran actors, traditional rulers, and key figures from the Lagos State Government and the Ministry of Tourism.
society
Nigeria Needs a Revolution, Not Rhetoric: Why the ADC Coalition Must Become the People’s Weapon in 2027. (Opinion)
Nigeria Needs a Revolution, Not Rhetoric: Why the ADC Coalition Must Become the People’s Weapon in 2027. (Opinion)
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Across Nigeria today, from the sun-scorched plains of Borno to the oil-rich creeks of the Niger Delta and from the trading hubs of Onitsha to the dusty streets of Zaria, one thing binds the masses beyond party lines: SUFFERING. The hardship in the land has reached an unprecedented crescendo, one so loud that even the most politically apathetic citizens are now tuning in. In this climate of anguish and desperation, the emergence of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition has sparked a rare glimmer of hope. Not necessarily because of the faces at the helm, but because Nigerians are desperate for a revolution of leadership and governance.
Let us be clear: NIGERIANS are not FOOLS. They know that names and faces come and go in politics, but the system has remained rotten/corrupt, exploitative and deaf to the cries of the people. The APC government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has not only failed to alleviate the nation’s burdens; it has multiplied them. The cost of living is sky-high, the naira is worthless, fuel prices have become the stuff of horror movies and insecurity still rules the highways and farmlands. The people are tired. What we need now is not just another political party, a platform for revolutionary change and the ADC coalition must rise to become that platform.
The Nigerian Condition: A Crisis in Progress
Nigerians have long endured a crisis of leadership. From PDP’s years of squandered opportunities to APC’s regime of economic hardship, the nation has been on a downward slope. Today, Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world, with over 133 million citizens living in multidimensional poverty, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (2022). This is not just a statistic; it is a death sentence for the poor, a nightmare for the middle class and a disappointment for the youth.
Inflation has skyrocketed. As of June 2025, Nigeria’s headline inflation stands above 34%, with food inflation even worse. A bag of rice now costs over ₦80,000, a loaf of bread ₦1,200 and petrol hovers around ₦1,200 per litre; up from ₦184 when Tinubu took over. The average Nigerian worker earns less than ₦30,000 a month and over 20 states have refused to implement the new ₦70,000 minimum wage passed in 2024. What kind of WICKEDNESS is this?
The education system is in disarray. Federal universities are on strike, while Tinubu offers scholarships to students in faraway Saint Lucia. Hospitals lack basic equipment. Youth unemployment is over 53%, and kidnappings and terrorism are once again becoming part of daily headlines. The people no longer need promises; they need a way out.
Why the ADC Coalition Offers Hope.
This is where the ADC coalition comes in. But let’s be frank: it will not succeed simply by existing. Nigerians are tired of empty structures. What is needed is a RADICAL MOBILIZATION of the masses, a people-powered revolution that transcends RACE, RELIGION, ETHNICITY and POLITICAL history.
As Wole Soyinka once said, “The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny.” The ADC must not remain silent or soft-spoken (it must become the thunderbolt that breaks the back of the oppressive elite class. Every well-meaning Nigerian) civil servant, student, trader, mechanic, teacher, imam, pastor and unemployed graduate; must see the ADC coalition not as a party, but as a movement.
We need a coalition that mirrors the passion of the EndSARS movement, the coordination of June 12 and the unity of Nigeria’s 1993 electoral spirit. It must be loud. It must be brave. It must be ready to fight the political cabals who have held Nigeria hostage.
Revolutionary Unity: What We Must Do.
What Nigerians are demanding now is revolutionary joining; not a mere registration as members of the ADC, but total commitment to building a new nation. The revolution we need is not one of violence, but of votes. Not of slogans, but of strategy. Not of protests, but of power.
Every Nigerian must abandon the politics of stomach infrastructure and embrace the politics of posterity. Enough of collecting ₦2,000 to sell a future worth billions. Enough of dancing for thieving politicians. Enough of defending tribe and religion while the elite feast and the poor suffer.
In 2027, we must use the ballot to break the chains. But that won’t happen unless every patriotic Nigerian joins the ADC movement now, builds local cells, sensitizes their communities, organizes voter registration and forms watch-dog groups to protect votes and expose rigging.
As the late Chinua Achebe warned, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” The greater tragedy is the failure of followership that continues to empower these failed leaders.
APC Must Be Removed by All Means Democratic.
Let us call a spade a spade: APC must be removed. Peacefully, democratically and constitutionally; but removed nonetheless. The party has proven itself incapable of delivering even the most basic dividends of democracy. Their reign has been a cocktail of deceit, propaganda and gross incompetence.
In Tinubu, Nigeria got not a messiah, but a merchant; one who flies from Saint Lucia to Saint Helena signing deals with foreign business partners while the country burns. This is no longer governance; it is betrayal at the highest level.
The ADC coalition must position itself not as opposition, but as the only sane alternative. It must champion policies that put Nigerians first; jobs for the youth, local refining of oil, a tech-driven economy, a decentralized police system, and total educational reform.
We Cannot Be Neutral
In times like these, neutrality is betrayal. Silence is complicity. Indifference is suicide. Every well-meaning Nigerian must rise now and fight for a future worth living in. The vehicle for that future can be the ADC coalition; if it remains people-driven, uncompromised and aggressive in the pursuit of justice and development.
As activist Aisha Yesufu put it, “If you think politics is dirty and stay away, you will be ruled by the dirty ones.” We can no longer afford to stay away. We must get involved, get dirty for the right reasons and clean up this country once and for all.
National Imperative: Join the Movement or Miss the Revolution
Let it be known that this is not just another political season. This is a season for national rebirth. Those who join now will be remembered as pioneers of a new Nigeria. Those who sit on the fence will be remembered as cowards.
This is a call to action. Join the ADC not because it is perfect, but because it is available. Build it into a weapon for the people. Use it to dismantle the rot. Use it to restore the dreams of millions. 2027 must be a revolution through the ballot box. The ADC coalition must be the people’s sword.
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