By Ifesinachi Okoli-Okpagu
Alexandria Amamgbo, Alumni Engagement Officer, TEF, is one of the newest faces at HH. While sitting with her one day, I observed her meat-less food and asked her about.
These are her words; feel free to comment below and welcome her to HH.
The last time we spoke, it was interesting to learn your views on why you don’t eat meat. Any reason why?
I made the decision to go meat-less almost 10 years ago, when I was just thirteen years old, following a PETA video I watched with a couple of my friends titled “Meet Your Meat”. It is a short documentary that highlights the dark reality behind the meat and poultry industry within the US.
As a lover of animals and the environment, the video was very difficult to watch. It opened my eyes to the potentially negative impacts that my personal eating habits could have on the planet, and ultimately inspired me to take action and give up meat for good.
Since transitioning into a meat-less diet, I have become more conscious about the food that I eat, and I now use my experience to educate and inspire others to do the same.
How did you handle the transition?
The greatest challenge for me during my transition to a meatless diet was not weaning myself off of meat per se, but actually convincing my family of carnivores, to accept my new lifestyle and also finding enough protein to sustain a healthy diet.
For a full year, anytime I got sick, my mother would blame it on that fact that I was vegetarian. She would complain that I wasn’t getting enough protein, and for the most part, she was right. However, with time I have been able to find creative ways to incorporate veggie-friendly protein into my diet, and convince her and the rest of my family that a meat-less lifestyle could actually be sustainable, even in Nigeria.
Despite the daily challenges, I believe that becoming a vegetarian was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and has ultimately shaped me into the person that I am today.
You’ve been back in Nigeria for a few months. What were your first thoughts as soon as you landed and what has changed now?
One of the first things I noticed when I arrived in Lagos was how vibrant and busy the city is. At first everything seems so chaotic; however, over time I’ve realized that there is actually a method to the madness, which I’ve ultimately come to admire.
If you were elected President of Nigeria, what would be the first 3 duties you would execute?
If I were elected as President of I would focus on:
- Improving the education and healthcare system.
- Diversifying our economy to relieve our dependence on oil. Specifically, I would invest in key sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture.
- Creating a more conducive environment for aspiring entrepreneurs to conduct business by eliminating bureaucratic processes such as multiple taxation.
How do you relax?
If I’m really stressed out or overwhelmed I usually turn to food, music, or some good old-fashioned retail therapy.
What are your top 3 places to visit in the world?
My top 3 places I would love to visit are:
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Marrakesh, Morocco
- Bali, Indonesia
What are your plans for Christmas?
This Christmas I hope to go back to the US to visit family, friends, and my beloved dog Joe-Bootie.
If you were to wish away 3 problems in the world, what would they be?
In a perfect world, there would be no such thing as poverty, racism, or global warming.
So, Alexandria is a vegetarian? I have grown fond of teasing her and her vegetables but never really knew that she is a vegetarian. Good to know. Alex, can you tell me more about what you meant by ‘impact of my eating habit on the planet’? What about the leaves and vegetables that vegetarians demolish? Don’t those also impact the planet? I surely need more information on why it is better to spare the goats but kill the plants.