Esighi, Bakassi — Hope, determination, and a renewed sense of community spirit filled the air on Monday as Esighi community in Bakassi Local Government Area welcomed the launch of a grassroots agricultural initiative poised to transform lives—”Pepper in Every Home.”
Spearheaded by Grace Bassey, an Intersectional Leadership Incubator (ILI) Fellow and community advocate, in partnership with the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), the project seeks to equip 50 vulnerable households—particularly women, widows, persons with disabilities, and youth—with climate-smart techniques and tools to grow pepper in home gardens.
“This is about more than pepper,” said Grace Bassey, who also serves as the project lead. “It’s about building something people can own, nurture, and benefit from—right from their backyards. We are planting more than seeds—we are planting trust, understanding, and purpose.”
Led by its Executive Director, Monday Osasah, the Centre LSD team visited Esighi to officially begin community engagement and sensitization. The project, according to Osasah, aligns with Centre LSD’s broader commitment to grassroots-led, gender-responsive, and sustainable development.
The warm reception by the local population—women, youth, and traditional leaders—reflected both the challenges they face and their readiness for change. Rising food prices, limited access to fresh produce, and the loss of household income were common concerns raised. But so too was an eagerness to learn, adapt, and reclaim food autonomy.
“This initiative is a small but powerful step toward food security, environmental resilience, and economic inclusion,” said Centre LSD on her social media handle, noting that it is particularly critical for marginalized communities like Bakassi that are often excluded from mainstream development agendas.
The social media buzz surrounding the visit also captured the excitement.
“Congratulations, my great farmer,” wrote Maria Ukpanyang, reacting to Grace Bassey’s post about the visit. “This means we will soon be self-sufficient with pepper even in our flower beds. Can this spread to other LGAs?”
Similarly, Dominic Ita, a native of neighbouring Akpabuyo LGA, expressed hope that the programme would be extended. “Leader, please can this be extended to Akpabuyo, my local government?”
Adding his voice, Obieze Smart JO thanked the Centre LSD team for their visit, writing, “On behalf of the entire Set 23, we say thank you to our amiable Executive Director for all you do.”
Indeed, the first meeting was less about tilling soil and more about tilling hearts and minds—creating a shared understanding of the vision and fostering trust with the community.
With the groundwork now laid, the “Pepper in Every Home” project commences full implementation, starting with the community sensitisation, to be followed by training home gathering/climate change adaptation session for selected households.
According to Fellow Bassey, the initiative contributes to the broader goals of climate justice, sustainable agriculture, and poverty reduction, especially border communities like Bakassi. By empowering households to grow what they eat—and potentially sell—project leaders believe the ripple effect will be felt well beyond pepper plants.
As one community leader noted during the visit: “We are ready to grow. This is our time.”
