Dialogue on food system which is part of the Decade of Action to achieve the Development Goals of the United Nations by 2030 was held in Enugu on Thursday, 8th April, 2021.
The event which held at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu was conveyed by the UN Secretary-General; Antonio Guterre in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
The summit tagged; ‘The Exploratory Dialogue of the United Nations Food Systems Summit’ was for the South East States of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu.
The Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi Exploratory Dialogue is the second out of the two dialogues hosted in the South-East as part of the UN Food Systems Summit with key players from the worlds of science, business policy, health care and academia as well as farmers, youth organizations, consumer groups, civil society organizations and other key stakeholders.
The exploratory dialogue is expected to harvest information from these stakeholders and also put forward outcomes and recommendations that will advance the Food Systems in the region by the year 2030.
In his opening speech, the Governor of Enugu state who’s the host of the summit welcomed all the participants to “the peaceful land of Enugu State.”
The Governor who was represented by the State Commissioner for Education; Prof. Uche Eze pointed out that the “Enugu State Government understands the urgent need to develop a food system that is sustainable and inclusive; in pursuit of which and upon realization that food security is a prerogative of good nutrition committed herself to reducing hunger through various interventions at the state and local government levels. Interventions includes the putting in place & inauguration of Enugu State Committee on Food & Nutrition, adoption of the National Food and Nutrition Policy, domestication of Enugu State Multisectoral Strategic Plan of Action on Food and Nutrition, various support programmes to farmers to enhance productivity all year round amongst other numerous interventions.
Speaking earlier, the Enugu State Commissioner for Budget and Planning; Hon. Dr. David Okelue Ugwunta explained that the summit was in line with the United Nation’s call for action and the target to achieve food security in line with the SDGs by 2030.
Dr. Ugwunta highlighted the 5 Action Tracks of the Summit as:
Action Track 1: Ensuring Access to Safe and Nutritious Food for All
Action Track 2: Shift to Sustainable Consumption Patterns
Action Track 3: Boost Nature-Positive Production
Action Track 4: Advance Equitable Livelihoods
Action Track 5: Build Resilience to Vulnerabilities, Shocks and Stresses.
According to Dr. Ugwunta; “it is expected that outcomes of the dialogue will aid the improvement of nutrition, lessen hunger and incidence of malnutrition towards ensuring resilience, inclusive and sustainable Food Systems in Nigeria by 2030.”
He disclosed that the recommendations to be derived from the state level dialogues will form part of the consolidated dialogue to be put up later at the national level.
Also speaking, the National Convener of the summit and Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Olusola Idowu expressed delight with the success of the summit.
Mrs Idowu who joined the the dialogue virtually, while thanking participants for making out time to grace the event enjoined them to ensure that the outcome of the dialogue is transmitted to their various states.
At the end of the dialogue, the participants noted that flooding, soil erosion, farmer-herder clashes, inadequate farmer education, low budgetary release of funds for capital projects in the agricultural sector were amongst the factors identified as setbacks to food security.
They also assured that States are prepared for agricultural and nutritional self-sufficiency and recommended inclusiveness in the food system through access to productive input, infrastructural diversification of food production, good governance, partnership and collaboration across sectors and governance among others.
The Dialogue at the National level and the flag-off of the summit at Zonal levels was held on the 23rd of February, 2021.
Some of the dignitaries that were at the dialogue include; the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Enugu State Dr. Ike Obi; Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture, Enugu State Dr. Idu Mathew and his Ebonyi State Counterpart; Hon. Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Ebonyi State, Hon. Orlando Nwaeze.
Others are Olachi Chuks Ronnie, FCDO Regional Coordinator, Southern Nigeria; Permanent Secretaries and others.
