(L-R) Dr Foster Ihejiofor, Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Dede Ekuoe Country Director International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Mr Nebeolisa Anako, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning during a meeting on Friday in Awka
The United Nations (UN) Secretary General has approved a high-level side event for Nigeria at the Stock Taking Moment coming from July 24 to July 26, 2023 in Rome.
Mr Nebeolisa Anako, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Abuja disclosed this at the meeting of National Steering Committee on Implementation of the Food Systems Transformation Pathway in Nigeria held on Friday in Awka.
He said the UN Secretary General conveyed the approval through the Food Systems Coordination Hub of the global body, adding that the side event will be chaired by President Bola Tinubu or his vice.
“The high-level event it was gathered would be a platform to bring World leaders, Captains of Agro-Allied Industries, investors and private food related organisations together for advancing global food security agenda.
“Discussion at the event will be on innovative financing for the food system transformation pathway and means to attract private sector investment in the food systems, diaspora and donors’ intervention”, Anako said.
He further informed the committee that the organisers of the Rome event also approved another Side Event with the theme “Scaling up multi-stakeholders’ collaboration and investments in the implementation of the food systems transformation pathways in Nigeria.
“The Side Event will showcase our national strategy that is unifying all states through geopolitical zones on implementation of the pathways”, he said.
He called on participants to bring to the table, robust ideas and initiatives that would complement comprehensive report on the implementation of Food Systems Transformation Pathways in Nigeria.
He said the meeting was the first held physically after the virtual inauguration on April 20, 2023 by the immediate past Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba.
Anako called on participants to come up with robust ideas and initiatives that will make Nigeria achieve successful implementation of the Food Systems transformation pathways that will serve as model for other countries.
According to him, Nigeria is rated across the globe as champion in the implementation process by the United Nations Food Systems coordination hub.
He commended efforts of the lead Partners and UN Agencies including: World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Grand Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) for their support.
Mrs Dede Ekuoe, Country Director, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) urged participants to contribute towards achieving food system pathway in the country.
Ekwoe in line with its mandate, IFAD supports the food system transformation agenda by enhancing smallholder farmers’ productivity, profitability and access to markets, fostering the economic empowerment of rural youth and women.
Dr Foster Ihejiofor, Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture in a welcome remarks said Nigeria needs to improve food production to enhance the living conditions of her populace.
“We must adopt multi-angle food production system that is eco-friendly considering the impact of climate change”, he said.
The meeting was attended by permanent secretaries drawn from nine states of: Edo, Anambra, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Osun, Borno, Kwara, and Akwa Ibom who are to coordinate implementation of the 78 priority action plans for food system transformation agenda in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
National convener, Famiran Sanjo added that after the Awka meeting participants would proceed to Uzanu Farm, Edo State for a robust meeting ahead of the Rome event.
