By Egodi Onyia
Nigerians are currently experiencing unprecedented economic hardship that many families find it hard to make ends meet.
In many communities in Nigeria, families are improvising and juggling home upkeep and maintenance by thinking out of the box.
In the south-East state of Enugu State precisely, families have started resorting to Okpa.
Okpa used to be seen as a snack but now, it seems to be the main course meal as a way out of the hardship that is ravaging many homes.
Mr. Ugwuja Nkemakonam is a civil Servant who told this reporter that his family now uses Okpa to settle and alleviate his family feeding problem.
Okpa is that bean-like delicacy popularly found in eastern Nigeria where it is cooked and on popular display at markets and garages wherever you go.
According to Wikipedia, Okpa (pronounced Ọkpa) is a delicacy prepared by the Igbo people with a special type of beans known as Bambara nuts. It is common in Enugu state and classified as a traditional Nigerian delicacy due to its uniqueness. Not limited to Igbo people, other tribes take it with pap or eat it alone. It is known as Gurjiya or kwaruru in hausa language.”
The Wikipedia further says “Its main ingredient include; Bambara nut (okpa) flour, palm oil, crayfish, salt and seasoning. Nutritionally, okpa has approximately 16.92% crude protein, 4.93% fat, 26.62% carbohydrate and 216.28 kcal energy value,[9] making it one of the most balanced staples.”
Okpa wrapped in Plantain leaves are sold in every corner, streets, schools and markets in Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria including Lagos and parts of the south west and south south.
In some places University undergraduates have learnt to depend on Okpa for daily upkeep. Some people eat Okpa with tea or pap and that settles their breakfast.
Every morning Mr. Anozie gives his five children N200.00 each to buy Okpa for their breakfast.
For him and his wife, it is same method of saving family resources and also providing a reach balanced diet.
You can see that instead of spending as much as N5,000.00 for breakfast he spends only about N1,400 for Okpa and a big family feeding problem is solved.
Studies in science teaches that food is among the essential necessities of life. It is a prerequisite for good health, growth and life sustenance.
Okpa is known as Bambara nut in English, Ekpa-roro in Yoruba, Kwaruru or Gujija in Hausa. It’s botanical name is Vigna Subterranes (L. Verdo).
It is a dicotyledonous plant that grows in an area that is not water logged or swampy. It grows in rich sandy, clay and humus soils. Okpa are of many species that appear in different colours, such as white, milk, black or red colour.
Some appear in mixed colour of black and white. The red colour Okpa is not found in Nigeria but are found in countries like Asia and other parts of central Africa including Cameroon etc.
The color and specie of Okpa notwithstanding, the nutritional value is same and very rich too.
Okpa seed can be used to prepare a variety of food such as Moi-moi, cake, fruit juice and it could also be fried eaten like Peanut.
Prof. Mrs. Onubuogu a nutritionist and a researcher said that Okpa seed contains food nutrients like protein, Methionine, fatty acid, vitamin, zinc, calcium, potassium and dietary fiber.
Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Unonu, a dietician resident in United States of America said that “Okpa seeds has many verified health benefits”.
According to her “Okpa seed promotes digestion, boosts immune health, prevents cancer, bone diseases, heart disease. It gives energy, serves as remedy to insomnia cases. It also calms the body as well as helps in mood regulation.
Lots of dishes or food can be prepared from Okpa. These dishes do not need cooking spices before they can be palatable and tasteful for consumption. The dishes need only salt, Onion, Pepper, Vegetable and red oil. Food from Okpa seed are cheap and easy to prepare.
Looking at the massive occurrence of death from unexplainable types of diseases and numerous ill – health that befall people now, I recommend okpa as one of the basic food in our homes and families. Wherever such decision is made, we will find out that based on the kind of food we consume our body will be able to produce natural immunities capable of fighting against many diseases and sickness that would have affected our health.654
*Egodi Onyia S. is Assistant Director (Education) NCMM, Abuja.
