By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum on Thursday affirmed that there is direct link between food transformation and the social problems of hunger, poverty, healthcare, insecurity and unemployment.
Governor Zulum stated this during the North-East Sensitization Workshop on National Food System Transformation Pathways, which was held at Musa Usman Secretariat International Conference Center Maiduguri.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the workshop was organized by The United Nations in collaboration with The Federal Ministry of Finance and Borno State Government.
The governor in his address said the two day workshop would provide a means for improving the method of farming through mechanized farming.
This he said would attract youths into farming, thereby reducing poverty, hunger unemployment and insecurity which is part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Governor Zulum, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Marte Hussaini said “the poor,, vulnerable women and children suffered most in every crisis. With agriculture being the main stay of the Borno State economy, this Sensitization Workshop is not only apt but will provide the participants opportunity to key in into the state government’s 10 year strategic plan and 25 year Development Plan.”
While urging the participants to.contribute to the discussion.with a view to develop a realistic and implementable plan, Governor Zulum urged participants to make good use of the opportunities provided by the workshop.
On his part, The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Olusola Idowu, said the workshop was organized for participants drawn from Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe Gombe and Bauchi States for the sustainable food security, social security and environmental sustainability.
Mrs. Idowu said the workshops are being held simultaneously across the other 5 geopolitical zones of the country from 6th to 8th July, 2022.
“Participation of women, youths and private sector and Non Governmental Organizations are critical in food system transformation pathways and I urge the state government to constitute an inter ministerial technical committees to harness the contribution of all MDAs.
“In the past, the ministry in collaboration with other stakeholders had over 40 dialogues in different parts of the country where challenges of food system transformation were identified and sustainable solutions were preferred and urged governments at all levels, as well as other stakeholders to do less talk and more action,” Mrs. Idowu said.
In her remark, The UN Representative, Ms. Martine Uzamugura commended the Federal Government and Borno State Government for hosting the food summit some time ago which was attended by the UN Secretary General, Mr Anthonio Guterres.
She commended the FAO, World Food Programmes and other international partners for the collaborations and synergy towards achieving a sustainable transformation pathways and answering the call of action.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Borno State Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Alh. Adamu Lawan Adamu, said the UN agencies in Nigeria have over years made efforts in supporting every sector of Nigerian economy.
According to him, poverty, insecurity, global warming and climate change are the multifaceted challenges that are confronting the Northeast region, as a result of the long time neglects that the region faced, following the dreadful Boko Haram insurgency..
” At the end of the two days engagement, we expect the participants to come up with clear, realistic, implementable and comprehensive food system transformation pathways,” Lawan said.
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