5 Foods OAU Students Consume Amid Economic Hardship

It is no longer news that economic hardship is biting harder in Nigeria as a result of fuel subsidy removal and the unabating spike in the prices of food commodities, with citizens daily lamenting the situation.

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, are also not left out in the experience of the torrid times.

Early before this hardship, some OAU students went to Country Kitchen, Ojaja Mall, Mr. Biggs, and others for shopping and to get other essential commodities.

Now that the economic hardship has reached its peak, coupled with the school fee increment, OAU students have reduced their food intake to the following:

1. Garri (Cassava Flakes): Garri is often chosen by OAU students with limited cooking facilities. As Garri or cassava flakes now sell for N1,200 per congo in Ile-Ife, some OAU students have found it difficult to buy. Because of its increasing rate, some OAU students prefer to drink garri in the morning, afternoon, and night to survive.
2. As E Dey Hot: As E Dey Hot is a well-known food vendor in OAU that sells puff puffs and buns on campus. Before the advent of economic hardship, the puff puff cost N20 per one, but due to the increasing cost of ingredients, it is now N50 per one, which has reduced the quantity consumed by the students. Some OAU students prefer to consume two of it in the morning, drink Garri in the afternoon, and take two of As E Dey Hot snacks with ordinary water at night.
3. Spagewa: Spagewa is a delicacy combining spaghetti and beans in a Jollof-style recipe. It is enjoyed by a significant portion of OAU students. The students of Obafemi Awolowo University consume it to ensure their stomachs are full when attending 3–4 hour classes like ZOO 401 and ECN 205.
4. Eba (cassava flour paste): OAU students do believe that Eba can make one sleep and feel dizzy when taken in the morning, but because of the ongoing economic hardship, they decided to adopt Eba and consume it with ewedu without meat. Some will eat it in the morning and later eat the rest at night.
5. Beans and Garri: Normally some OAU students prefer eating bread and beans, but because bread is now expensive, they decide to add garri and forget the bread part.