From John Silas, Lagos
Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) a leading consumer rights not for profit organization in Nigeria has concluded its Green Living Initiative (GLI), a community-based project that equipped participants with practical skills to grow food in limited spaces using readily available and reusable materials, reaching 125 people through a train-the-trainer approach.
Supported through the Green Action Fund, funded by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC), and coordinated and administered by Consumers International, a membership organization for consumer groups around the world behind Green Action Week, the initiative was implemented under the 2026 Green Action Week theme, “Sharing Community.” The project promoted sustainable consumption and production by demonstrating how individuals and households could use simple gardening techniques to supplement their food supplies while making productive use of available space and resources.
The approach was particularly relevant amid persistent concerns about food affordability in Nigeria. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), food inflation stood at 19.59% year-on-year in September 2026, indicating that food prices remained significantly higher than a year earlier, despite a decline in the monthly rate of price increases. With food costs continuing to put pressure on household budgets, the initiative introduced small-space gardening as a practical way to supplement household food supplies, even for people without access to farmland.
At the heart of the initiative was a train-the-trainer model designed to extend its benefits beyond the initial participants. CADEF trained 25 people, who were then equipped and supported to pass on their knowledge by training at least three others in their communities. Some participants went on to train even more people, bringing the initiative’s total reach to 125 people trained in small-space food production.
At the project’s closing ceremony in Lagos, participants and Green Living Ambassadors showcased their produce and shared experiences from the training. They demonstrated techniques for sack and container gardening, as well as the use of window boxes, empty oil kegs, discarded paint buckets and other underutilised spaces around the home. Crops cultivated included okra, cucumber, sweet potato, tomato and groundnut.
Speaking at the ceremony, CADEF’s Executive Director, Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, said the initiative was intended to give households practical knowledge they could apply using the space and resources available to them.
“Food prices affect what families can afford to put on their tables. We recognise that small-space gardening cannot, on its own, solve the problem of food inflation, but it can give households another option. If someone can use a sack, an old bucket or a small space at home to grow vegetables, that is valuable knowledge. The next step is to put that knowledge to use and share it with others,” she said.
Prof. Ndukwe-Okafor noted that the train-the-trainer approach was central to the initiative’s community impact, enabling the original participants to introduce others to practical food-growing techniques. She encouraged them to sustain their efforts beyond the programme, citing the experience of a young man who had turned sack farming into a source of food and income for his family.
“I know a young man who reached out to tell me that he no longer buys yam because he grows his own in about 100 sacks in his compound. He also sells some of his harvest and uses the proceeds to pay his children’s school fees. His experience demonstrates what is possible when people apply the knowledge they have acquired. I encourage all our participants not to stop because this programme has ended. Keep growing, keep learning and, importantly, share what you have learnt with others,” she said.
The Deputy Director of Agriculture at the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Olufunke Obafemi, commended CADEF for its consumer education and advocacy work, emphasising the role of sustainable agricultural practices and responsible resource use in strengthening food systems and protecting livelihoods.
“We recognise the importance of promoting sustainable agricultural practices, reducing food loss and waste, and encouraging responsible consumption. These efforts are important to strengthening our food systems and protecting livelihoods. We also commend CADEF for its commitment to consumer education and empowerment, particularly its efforts to encourage informed choices and responsible use of resources,” she said.
Ms Obafemi reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting initiatives that connect environmental sustainability with agricultural development, food security and public well-being.
Participants also shared how the training had changed their perceptions of food production and their ability to grow crops at home.
Chibueze Nwachukwu said the programme had given him the confidence to begin cultivating food for personal consumption.
“This initiative has made me realise that I can grow some of my basic food right in my backyard, in my own comfort space. Three months ago, I wasn’t confident or knowledgeable about growing my own food. With the support from CADEF and the facilitators, I have now been able to grow groundnuts, and I plan to try other crops soon,” he said.
Beyond the immediate skills acquired, the initiative sought to build a culture of community learning in which practical knowledge could be shared and adapted to different household circumstances. Through its Green Living Ambassadors and the wider network of people trained by the initial participants, CADEF encouraged more community members to explore small-space gardening and make better use of household resources.
Although the formal project has ended, CADEF hopes that participants will continue cultivating food, sharing their knowledge and encouraging others to adopt sustainable gardening practices. The organisation remains committed to consumer education, practical empowerment and advocacy for safer, more sustainable choices that support household well-being and resilient communities.
