From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Kogi State Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. David Apeh on Thursday in Lokoja restated its commitment towards food security, wipeout hunger and poverty in the state.
Apeh who gave the assurance while speaking during the celebration of this year’s World Food Day held in Lokoja said this year’s Day was organised by the ActionAid Nigeria and Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change In Development (PIBCID) in collaboration with the Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture, Titled: “Our Actions Are Our Future”
According to the commissioner, “Governor Yahaya Bello has done so much in the fight against hunger, poverty and disease since he came on board through prompt payment of counterparts funding to international donor agencies in order to ensure and promote food security in the state”
Apeh said the journey of agricultural development in the state has been eventful and very rewarding with an assurance that the sector will continue to receive priority attention now and in the future.
The commissioner enumerated some of the major agricultural activities in the state to include; cassava, yam, rice, fish and maize production amongst others adding that the fight against hunger and poverty in the state should be a collective war by government and the citizens.
In her goodwill message at the event, the state commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Fatima Buba urged women in the state to key into agriculture as the sector serves the main source for human survival.
She appreciated Governor Yahaya Bello’s effort to boost agriculture in the state and thanked ActioinAid Nigeria for sponsoring this year’s World Food Day Celebration in Kogi.
Earlier, the Executive Director of Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change In Development ( PIBCID), Halima Sadiq said the decision to put in place the event is part of her organisation’s commitment towards ensuring food security sustainability and development of the Agricultural sector in Kogi State.
“We celebrate this day to appreciate efforts by small holders farmers especially women in Agriculture who against all odds including COVID-19 Pandemic has ensured a reduction in the world hunger adding “the activity is aimed at creating global awareness and challenges of malnutrition as a result of sufferings from hunger and to further encourage nutrition sensitive Agriculture for citizens health and well being given that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation” Halima Sadiq explained.”
She said the World Food Day is a global platform created for all actors in the Agriculture value chain involving producers, processors, off takers as well as consumers to collectively chart the way forward in addressing food security challenges.
Halima was optimistic that collective efforts must be intensified to end hunger as a mandate in the sustainable development goals.
In her address, the state coordinator of Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria, (SSWFON) Hajia Safia Yahaya commended ActionAid Nigeria for their advocacy that has yielded fruitful results of world Bank financial support.
She also appreciated the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for his prompt release of counterpart funds towards their project implementation assuring that women farmers will put more efforts towards food sepp0curity and reduction of poverty to justify the support of the state government.
