The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has announced its partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to advance food security initiatives in Nigeria. This was revealed during a courtesy visit by NSE President, Margaret Aina Oguntala, to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, in Abuja.
Key Points from the Meeting:
NSE’s Commitment to Food Security:
– NSE President, Margaret Aina Oguntala, emphasized the critical role of food security in national growth, poverty reduction, and human well-being.
– She highlighted the necessity for pragmatic and proactive measures and the importance of collaboration between NSE and the Ministry to address food security challenges.
Support for Ministry’s Initiatives:
– Oguntala assured full support from NSE for the Ministry’s efforts to achieve food security, acknowledging the Ministry’s leadership under Sen. Kyari.
– She praised the Minister’s alignment of the Ministry with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Upcoming International Engineering Conference:
– Oguntala announced NSE’s 2024 International Engineering Conference, Exhibition, and Annual General Meeting, scheduled for November 18 to 22 in Abuja.
– The event’s theme, “Sustainable Engineering Solutions to Food Security and Climate Change,” aligns with the administration’s commitment to food security.
Agriculture Entrepreneurial Development Programme:
– Oguntala presented a proposal for an Agriculture Entrepreneurial Development Programme aimed at boosting agricultural activities.
– The program includes establishing demonstration farms and engineering villages across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to promote mechanized farming, irrigation systems, and sustainable practices.
– These hubs will serve as innovation incubators for developing and testing new agricultural technologies.
Entrepreneurship Fairs:
– The NSE plans to organize Entrepreneurship Fairs featuring workshops and mentorship programs to foster collaboration between emerging and senior agricultural entrepreneurs.
– The fairs aim to attract funding partners from key government entities such as the Bank of Industry (BOI) and Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIMBank), empowering NSE members to scale their agri-businesses.
Minister’s Response:
Sen. Abubakar Kyari expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with NSE, noting that the Ministry would leverage NSE’s expertise to achieve the government’s food security goals. He acknowledged that developing sustainable solutions for Nigeria’s food systems is a priority for the administration.
Challenges and Strategies:
Kyari highlighted the various challenges affecting food production, including COVID-19, flooding, insecurity, and currency redesign. He emphasized the need for a new strategy to reverse these trends and improve food security in Nigeria. Kyari also reiterated President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on food security as a response to the difficulties faced by Nigerian families.
The collaboration between NSE and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security represents a significant step towards developing sustainable and innovative solutions to enhance food security and support the agricultural sector in Nigeria.
