ADAMAWA: Wealth right under our feet (2)

Fear and hope drives us to greatness. The fear of attack by others make us strong and crave for a better secured society. The fear of death strenghtened our believes and make us fateful. The fear of poverty drives us to revolutionise the creation of wealth; to see billions of naira where others only see nothing.



Atiku Abubakar an indigene of Adamawa State, a multi-billionaire and a former vice President, is a water vendor. Yes, water! He is making millions of naira from the production and sale of bottled water. He has added value to it by branding, bottling and purification. Otherwise it is simply water.



In Adamawa State, there is so much wealth beneath our feet. We need to look harder, especially now that there is so much poverty and unemployment starring us at our faces. Now more than ever, we have the chance to see water where others see dust. It is often said that when people are hungry their thinking goes to sleep. Contrary to this i think when people are hungry and poor they must think sharply or else they perish.



We will not perish because we have the ‘saviour tree’ in abundance. Other cultures call it the ‘Miracle Tree’ and ‘Tree of Life’ because of its many benefits and uses. It is popularly known as Moringa.



Moringa grows crazily and widely across many communities in Adamawa State. When i was growing up i could remember seeing people reinforcing their fences with it around their homes. I could also remember an old woman sending me to fetch the leaves for her; the Moringa trees grows all around her house. She would wash and steam the leaves,mix it with grinded ground nut cake which we called bakuru. Added with a little salt and pepper it was smashing for us back then. The old woman who lives just around the corner of our house claimed it gives her strenght and vitality. Now i know better.



Moringa is a food source with high nutritional content and medicinal properties which small companies can build fortunes around its uses and benefits, especially as a source for fuel and lubricant for machinery.


SKIN AND BEAUTY CARE


The oil of moringa can be extracted and be used to produce perfume and fragrances because it absorbs and retains scents.



Factories can manufacture medicinal ointments that protects dry skin and treatment for wrinkles and other skin problems. Moringa oil is found in large quantities in hair products, soaps, body wash, deodorants, body creams etc. This is due to its cleansing and moisturizing properties that helps absorb into skin easily and gives the skin the desired radiance and glow. All these products can provide commercial benefits to small companies that are willing to expand in beauty care products.


Its abundance Vitamin A helps build collagen in the skin. Vitamin C reduces wrinkles while Vitamin E   produces healing effects that reduces ageing and inflammation.


CURE


It alos cures eczema which affects the both the skin of Africans as well as, Asians and Caucasians. Some African countries use Moringa leave to cure diarrea and enhance the building of blood cells.



Moringa  can also serve as an alternative in boosting the immune system of HIV patients especially in most African countries that have shortages of antiretroviral drugs. Even though it can not speedily compete with antiretroviral drugs, but it can enhance the immune system and reduce mortality rates as recommended by the 14th International AIDS conference in Spain (2002).



Many families across the Northern Nigeria suffer from Diabetes. This is simply a situation where the pancrease has become incapable of producing enough insulin or does not produce any. It must be noted that Diabetes has no cure but Moringa Oleifera’s natural boost for immune system makes it a formidable alternative in managing Diabetes.


Moringa leaf supplements is known to heal digestive tract disorders like gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcer is commonly an inflammation of the stomach wall which causes pain, nausea, heartburn, vomitting of blood and other life threatening conditions. Moringa leaf can give relieve to these conditions mentioned above.



There is no doubt the pursuit of Moringa can bring in profits to enterprenuers who can add value, market its acceptability, in a way that people can see it extraordinary. It can provide employment for graduates, job to farmers and generate revenue for Government.