The OBE Garden initiative - For Every Woman.

🌿 Founder’s Message – OBE Garden

By Oluwatomi Olatoye

In 2021, in the heart of Akure, Ondo State, I planted more than seeds—I planted a vision. A vision to see every woman, every household, andevery community growing the very ingredients that make our soups rich, our culture vibrant, and our heritage alive.

OBE Garden was born from my love for the land, for our traditional flavors, and for the priceless gift of seeds passed down from generation to generation. In Yoruba, Obe means soup, and soup is more than just food—it is a story of our people, our soil, and our identity. Across Nigeria, every tribe has its own name for soup—Ofe in Igbo, Miya in Hausa, and countless others—yet we are united by the same deep connection to the meals that warm our hearts and bring us together.

Our mission is simple but powerful: promote our culture, preserve our seeds, and grow Africa’s flavors for the future. We teach households to cultivate leafy vegetables, spices, herbs, and protein sources like snails, fish, and rabbits—organically and sustainably. By doing this, we protect biodiversity, reduce dependency on imported foods, and keep our cultural identity rooted in our soil.

What started in one city is now growing into a movement that will spread across Nigeria and Africa at large. OBE Garden is not just about farming—it is about cultural pride, food security, and empowering communities. It is about ensuring that future generations can still taste the soups their grandmothers made, grown from the seeds their ancestors saved.

Join us. Let’s grow our culture, one seed at a time.

— Oluwatomi Olatoye
Founder, OBE Garden

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