The Ogun State government has called for collaboration with the private sector and other well-meaning members of society to tackle the food insecurity facing the country.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, who made the call during the 2024 Annual Colloquium of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) held on Thursday in Abeokuta, said a collaboration across all sectors will bring about the needed change.
Abiodun, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo, noted that the food crisis affecting the country is not just an agricultural problem; rather, it is an economic, social, and even moral challenge.
Delivering his keynote address on the theme, “Galvanizing Public & Private Stakeholders Towards Addressing Food Crisis in Nigeria: Public Relations as Key Driver,” the Commissioner noted that public relations must shift perceptions to show that agriculture is not a last resort for the struggling but a lucrative, sustainable business.
Owotomo said, “Public relations can give a voice to our farmers, empowering them to share their successes and attract investment. It can also help us connect urban Nigerians with the realities of rural food production, bridging the gap between consumption and cultivation.
“We must paint a vivid picture of a future where agriculture is a viable path for the youth, where private investments in agriculture thrive, and where every Nigerian has access to affordable, nutritious food.”
The lead speaker at the event, Olusola Kehinde, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, stated that a World Food Programme (WFP) report earlier this year indicated that 18.6 million Nigerians suffer from acute hunger, making achieving food security a national emergency.
Kehinde noted that Nigeria must dismantle all roadblocks in achieving the SDGs regarding the eradication of hunger and the attainment of food security.
In his address, the institute president and chairman of council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, represented by Mr. Tope Adaramola, asserted that to address the threat, the government must prioritize mechanized farming at all levels and provide the necessary incentives for increased agricultural yields.
Similarly, the Chairman of the NIPR Ogun State chapter, Mrs. Oluwaseun Boye, explained that the colloquium is a fallout from the food crisis situation currently facing Nigeria.
She bemoaned that Nigeria, despite being blessed with arable land and the Southwest having many institutions producing food, still suffers from hunger.
However, Olaolu Olabimtan, the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, stated that in order to achieve the necessary reforms, executable action is required rather than mere discussions.