Episode 582: Plant-Powered in Nigeria ft. Hakeem Jimo

Hakeem Jimo joins us this week for an insightful and inspiring conversation about Nigeria’s growing vegan movement and the meat alternative making a splash there: Vchunks. Hakeem tells us all about developing Vchunks specifically for the Nigerian palate. Not an imitation of meat substitutes commonly found in European and US markets, Vchunks—Hakeem shares—are designed to serve the needs of vegans in Nigeria without sacrificing traditional flavors. Originally from Germany and now based in Lagos, Hakeem has a unique perspective on the global African diaspora and tells us how it is trending meat-free, including how Black vegans in the US are leading the country’s vegan movement.
Hakeem is a vegan entrepreneur and co-founder of Nigeria’s first plant-based restaurant, Veggie Victory. After he introduced VChunks to the restaurant’s menu, the innovative product went on to become the first commercially produced meat alternative in Nigeria. Hakeem comes from a Nigerian-German background and has previously worked in journalism and public relations in West Africa.

“This battle of winning the plant-based war will be decided in developing worlds.”
– Hakeem Jimo

This Week in Our Hen House:

• How and why Hakeem and his wife founded the Veggie Victory restaurant in Lagos, Nigeria
• Why Hakeem is so proud of veganizing traditional Nigerian cuisine and some of the dishes they offer at the restaurant, which tempt locals to try a plant-powered diet
• Hakeem’s work in vegan outreach in schools and churches and why he feels it is so vital to educate people in Nigeria on the benefits of the plant-based lifestyle
• Why it can be so challenging for people to get animal products out of their diet and how Hakeem and Vchunks provide the link between traditional African food and the modern day diet
• The trends in meat consumption across Africa and how the situation there differs from that in the US and Asia
• How religion plays a role in encouraging people to move toward veganism and why that is such an exciting development
• Why climate change is also a hugely important food security issue in Nigeria

Connect with Hakeem Jimo:

• Veggie Victory website
• Veggie Victory on Facebook
• Veggie Victory on Instagram
• Veggie Victory on Twitter

Connect with Our Hen House:

• Our Hen House Website
• Our Hen House on Facebook
• Our Hen House on Instagram
• Our Hen House on Twitter

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This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

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Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast.
The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.