Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, became the center for urgent discussions on food security on Thursday as agricultural experts gathered for the Sahel Food Systems Changemakers Conference (SFSC).
At the conference, themed “Innovative Governance Models: a Pathway to Food and Nutrition Security in Nigeria,” experts emphasized the need for governance innovation, private-sector collaboration, and sustainable policies to combat rising food insecurity across Nigeria and Africa.
Hosted by Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), the event highlighted the pressing issues of climate change, skyrocketing food inflation, and inadequate governance structures, which have deepened food insecurity in Nigeria.
“Achieving food security in Nigeria requires governance innovations that foster efficient, evidence-based decision-making,” said Managing Partner at Sahel Consulting, Temitope Adegoroye.
He stressed that existing policies and limited private-public partnerships are insufficient to drive the growth needed in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Amid record-high food inflation rates, the National Bureau of Statistics reported 37.77% in September 2024 — Adegoroye noted that Sahel Consulting is working on amplifying innovative governance models to revamp the sector.
“Development actors and the private sector are pivotal in driving this growth,” he added.
As climate change exacerbates agricultural challenges, stakeholders highlighted the need to protect local food systems.
On his part, the Chair of Shine Bridge Global Inc., Tony Bello emphasized the potential of crops like cassava in reducing food insecurity.
“Let’s fortify our local crops and create new industrial ingredients that can generate value domestically,” he urged, calling on the government to minimize bureaucratic obstacles for agricultural businesses.
Speaking, a partner at Sahel Consulting, Aisha Hadejia showcased local foods at the event and called for a shift toward indigenous production.
“We must highlight Nigeria’s own nutritious foods to strengthen our food security,” she asserted.
The conference underscored the urgent need for practical actions and inclusive policies.
Acting Executive Secretary of the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN), Stephen Oludapo advised farmers to prioritize high-quality Stephen Oludapo, which play a vital role in boosting agricultural yields.
While a Senior Manager at Sahel Consulting, Fisayo Kayode echoed the need for cooperative agricultural models, stressing that they empower farmers with collective bargaining, shared resources, and training on climate-smart agriculture.
With Nigeria’s food insecurity projected to affect 26.5 million people by mid-2024, experts called for immediate government and private-sector action, collaboration, and effective governance to reverse the trend.
