On the 4th of April 2026, ASATTAHIR International Foundation (AIF) has launched a pilot project in Sokoto state to map lost and underutilized local foods, under the initiative “From Forgotten to Found: Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition Resilience Through the Identification and Revival of Traditional Foods in Northwest Nigeria.”
This project responds to reports from United Nations agencies, including the World Food Programme, highlighting that over 34 million Nigerians are projected to face acute food insecurity during the 2026 lean season.
The pilot phase engages community stakeholders to identify indigenous foods that are locally available, culturally appropriate, nutritionally valuable, but currently forgotten or underutilized, aiming to reintegrate them into local diets and food systems.
Community members, especially elders and women, are actively participating, sharing knowledge about traditional foods, their uses, and nutritional benefits. Participants have expressed willingness to reintroduce these foods if supported with seeds, awareness campaigns, and nutrition education.
Findings from Sokoto North, Gwadabawa and Bodinga LGAs pilot will inform future expansion across Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Katsina states, reinforcing AIF’s commitment to promoting culturally grounded, nutrition-sensitive, and climate-resilient food systems in northwest Nigeria.
