Key Points

• Women empowerment in Nigeria can reshape cultural narratives.

• Maggi symbolizes control where choices appear limited.

• Governance mirrors dependency seen in consumer behavior.

Stephanie Shaakaa’s provocative essay “When Maggi Owns the Tongue and Government Owns the People” got Nigerians to think about something they don’t often question: the quiet power of a seasoning cube in everyday cooking and what it means for power in society.

According to a report by Vanguard news, Shaakaa, a writer and cultural critic, says that Maggi’s control over Nigerian taste buds is like how governments control people by giving them few choices. She says that both create a sense of dependence that feels natural but limits freedom.

Maggi seasoning and the empowerment of women in Nigeria

Nestlé says that Nigeria is Maggi’s biggest market in Africa, with more than 70% of Nigerian homes using the brand. The company has marketed its products as more than just flavor enhancers; they are also cultural symbols. A lot of its advertising focuses on women as homemakers, like the long-running “Maggi Star Kitchen” campaign, which honors mothers as guardians of taste.

For Shaakaa, this is where the connection to women’s empowerment in Nigeria gets tricky. She wrote, “Maggi commercials show strong women on the surface, but in reality, they support a system of dependency.” She says that women can accept or reject these stories, which can affect the choices people make in their homes and the norms of society, which could have an impact on politics.

Government control and a lack of trust in the public

Shaakaa’s second point makes the line clearer. She said, “Just as Maggi has made itself irreplaceable in the kitchen, governments in Nigeria often act as if citizens have no other options.”

Observers say the analogy resonates in a country where voter turnout has fallen below 35 percent in recent elections, reflecting widespread distrust. Akin Oyebode, a political economist at the University of Lagos, says the essay touches on something deeper: “When choices are limited—whether in markets or in politics—people adapt, but it’s a form of silent resignation.”

Women empowerment in Nigeria as a form of resistance

Activists see a chance. The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) says that empowering women in Nigeria through education, starting their own businesses, and getting involved in politics could make it harder for businesses and the government to have too much power. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, WARDC’s executive director, said, “When women take charge, whether in the market or the ballot box, dependency models fall apart.”

Shaakaa ends her essay with a challenge: just like families can choose different ways to season their food, people can hold their leaders accountable. In both cases, empowerment starts with knowing that there is a choice.