The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, United Nations and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), on Tuesday held a private sector exploratory dialogue on Nigeria’s food systems.
While delivering the welcome remarks, Mrs. Oluyemisi Iranloye, Founder and CEO of Psaltry Nigeria Ltd, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic and raging insecurity have affected the agricultural industry and this has led to increase in the price of foods as well as reduction in the population of the citizens. She stated that at the 26th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#26), stakeholders acknowledged the absence of a warehouse security system as contributing largely to food insecurity issues affecting Nigeria.
She further added that it was expedient to have private sectors participation in Nigeria’s Agricultural System to help bridge the gap that exists in Nigeria’s food systems which will help reduce hunger and malnutrition and encourage a collaborative approach among all stakeholders. She said the dialogue will help increase participation and also create a synergy that will lead to economic growth and development.
Mrs. Olusola Idowu who is the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning and Convener of UN Member State of the Dialogue for Nigeria, said that the meeting seeks to bring together private sector groups as they explore, debate and shape pathways to sustainable food systems that will contribute to all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Identify the practices and policies that will have the greatest impact on the achievement of the desired future vision within the Nigerian local food systems and consider how it will be possible to assess progress towards improved food systems as well as determine who needs to be involved in achieving the overarching objective of building effective food systems in Nigeria.
Idowu reiterated that food systems touch all parts of human existence, and for Nigeria to be able to feed her growing population sustainably, agricultural productivity must grow alongside the entire food systems.
The representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Nigeria, Mr. Fred Kafeero, in his goodwill message, said that food systems touch every aspect of human existence and they profoundly affect the health of the people, environment, economies and culture. He also noted that collaboration and active participation by all stakeholders and domestic responses will not only make a huge difference but also help ensure food security.
The CEO of the NESG, Mr. ‘Laoye Jaiyeola, suggested that there is a need to enhance processing and make the agricultural space more friendly. He said partnership by all stakeholders would help to sustain and improve the agricultural sector and help the country become more successful.
In her closing remarks, Head, Public Policy Reforms and Intelligence of the NESG, Ms. Seun Ojo, thanked everyone for attending the event and for engaging in robust discussions that will lead to addressing food loss and waste. She stated that the dialogue was an important step in improving Nigeria’s food systems through the provision of pragmatic solutions and that a framework will be created that will fit into the larger UN resolutions, which will help in achieving the objective of shaping an improved food systems.
“The best way to deal with food insecurity, malnutrition and hunger is collective and concerted collaboration as well as efforts between government, private sectors, civil society organisations and all stakeholders”, she concluded.
