By Mercy Omoike
Stakeholders in agriculture, analysis and meals regulation have known as for extra meals security measures, improved processing and technology-driven farming to deal with starvation and strengthen Nigeria’s meals methods.
They made the decision at a convention organised by the Hope for Life Initiative (HFLI), in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) on Friday in Lagos.
The convention was to commemorate the 2026 World Food Day underneath the theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) studies that the convention targeted on enhancing meals security, selling innovation and strengthening collaboration amongst stakeholders to reinforce meals safety.
The convener and Executive Director of HFLI, Mr Kendi Aig-Imoru, mentioned the initiative’s collaboration with different organisations was geared toward tackling starvation and making certain that households might entry enough meals.
He mentioned the initiative was selling consciousness and increasing community-based interventions to make sure that its efforts had an enduring affect.
“Our key focus is zero hunger, ensuring that no child goes to bed hungry and that families can feed themselves.
“Even in your small garden, grow something that can provide food,” he mentioned.
Aig-Imoru burdened the necessity to recognise the contributions of girls farmers, describing them as very important to meals manufacturing and family vitamin.
He mentioned partnerships amongst farmers, authorities businesses, analysis establishments and personal organisations have been important to attaining meals safety.
“We need to celebrate what women and farmers are doing because Nigerian farmers are resilient.
“For us to achieve zero hunger, we have to partner with one another and collaborate,” he mentioned.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), represented by Mr Jangnan Amos, a Regulatory Officer on the fee, urged farmers and meals processors to stick to worldwide greatest practices to ensure meals security.
Adeyeye mentioned the company had launched digital platforms to simplify product registration, enhance regulatory providers and facilitate compliance amongst companies.
She cited the NAFDAC Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS), which she mentioned had made product registration simpler by a web based course of.
She additionally highlighted the company’s digital regulatory data administration providers and the Post-inspection Data Capture and Risk Management System (PCAMS), which helps regulatory processes involving imported merchandise.
According to her, such improvements are meant to enhance regulatory effectivity and assist the supply of protected meals merchandise.
“We need to build a food system where every producer takes care, every regulator acts with purpose, every consumer is informed, and every innovation serves the public good,” she mentioned.
Also, Mr Yen Choi, President of Netcom Africa and Board Member of Ignitia, emphasised the position of know-how in serving to farmers enhance productiveness, handle dangers and defend their investments.
Choi mentioned agricultural know-how ought to deal with sensible challenges confronting farmers reasonably than focus solely on devices and digital functions.
He recognized correct climate forecasts as significantly vital for figuring out planting intervals, organising labour, planning transportation and storage, and enhancing farmers’ earnings.
He mentioned Ignitia supplied climate forecasting data to farmers in Nigeria, enabling them to organize for altering climate situations.
“We cannot control the weather, but we can prepare for it.
“When we talk about innovation, we should begin with the farmer’s problems, not the technology. The most important word is useful,” he mentioned.
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Regional Coordinator for the South-West, Mr Benedict Itegbe, urged farmers and agro-processors to satisfy required requirements to enhance the export potential of Nigerian agricultural merchandise.
Itegbe, who was represented by a lawyer, Mr Temitope Hassan, mentioned the council remained dedicated to supporting exporters and selling innovation to strengthen meals safety and diversify the nationwide financial system.
Mr Adeola Akanbi, a analysis officer at FIIRO, mentioned attaining meals safety and enhancing vitamin required collaboration amongst analysis establishments, authorities businesses, trade, improvement organisations and communities.
Akanbi recognized post-harvest losses, insufficient processing capability and the rising price of nutritious meals as challenges affecting Nigeria’s meals methods.
He mentioned science, know-how, innovation and strategic partnerships have been wanted to maximise the worth of agricultural produce and enhance entry to inexpensive, nutritious meals.
He added that FIIRO was selling meals processing, preservation, product improvement and know-how switch to remodel regionally obtainable uncooked supplies into invaluable merchandise.
“Research must translate into practical solutions that improve lives.
“By supporting local food processing, reducing food losses and promoting affordable nutritious food products, we can contribute to a more resilient food system and improve nutritional outcomes for Nigerians,” he mentioned. (NAN)
Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa
