… Tasks Committee Members on Robust and Innovative Ideas
The Honourable Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, on Thursday inaugurated a 20-man Steering Committee who are expected to bring to fore, robust ideas and initiatives that will make Nigeria achieve successful implementation of the Food Systems transformation pathways that will be a model for other countries across the globe.
The Committee, chaired by the Honourable Minister, has co-chairmen and members from Government agencies in charge of economic planning, agriculture as well as some stakeholders from Non-Governmental Organisations, Development Partners and the private sector.
Speaking during the inauguration held in his Office, the Honourable Minister, informed that due diligence was undertaken in the constitution of the steering committee members, describing them as high level policy implementers and critical thinkers that will drive the implementation of the food system transformation pathway both at the national and sub national levels of Government in Nigeria.
According to the Honourable Minister, membership of the Steering Committee was carefully chosen, taking into consideration; good records of service, past performances and commitment to the transformation of food and nutrition in Nigeria.
Agba, who stated that there is no better time to inaugurate members of the Committee than now, expressed confidence that the Committee will institutionalize and sustain government’s efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with emphasis on sustainable healthy and nutritious food in Nigeria.
He appreciated the representatives of the coordinating states that served as the venues for the exploratory dialogues in 2021 as well as the sensitization Workshops where the report of the dialogues were presented and discussed in 2022, adding that the doggedness, perseverance; commitment and patriotism of all the coordinating States made Nigeria submit one of the best reports to the United Nations Food Systems Summit in 2021.
He noted that the outcome of all the dialogues were eventually synchronized into long, medium- and short-term transformation pathways for Nigeria which clustered into implementation in phases that provided clear implementable pathways presented by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR in New York on 23rd September 2021.
While saying that the Steering Committee will provide leadership for the implementation of all the 78 recommendations for transforming Nigeria’s food systems, Agba, maintained that the implementation, therefore, requires the input of all the committee members to sustain the commitment of Nigeria to the transformation of food systems in the spirit of achieving the 2030 Agenda.
He added that the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, being the coordinating Ministry, has constituted a multi-sectoral and multi stakeholder implementation Task Team including all relevant stakeholders and development partners to serve as a think tank for effective implementation of all the 78 priority recommendations that will serve as game changer to Nigeria’s food systems from the farm to folk and finally to waste.
He listed the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Steering Committee to among others, include: provision of leadership for Zonal coordination of the implementation of the Food Systems Transformation Pathways in all the 36 states including FCT; Lead advocacy to the State Governors and Governors Forum in each geopolitical zones as well as Head of potential philanthropic private sectors and Hon. Ministers of stakeholder MDAs at the Federal level.
The Committee is also expected to: Galvanize both political and financial support for implementation by critical stakeholders in each geopolitical Zones including the private sector and potential donors in the six zones and recommend the review of the priority actions in the Food Systems Transformation Pathways as may be required by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub.
Giving the Vote of thanks after the inauguration, the Permanent Secretary, Budget and National Planning, Engr. Nebolisa Anako, appreciated Minister of State, Prince Agba for his leadership style and passion in leading the committee.
He thanked other participants at the inauguration ceremony, among whom were the Country Rep IFAD, FAO, all Directors from different MDAs and those that participated virtually.
The National Convener, Dr. Sanjo Faniran who is also, Director Social Development, Budget and Nation Planning, advised the Committee to commence the implementation processes immediately.
He stated that the Zonal Consultation Workshop will be in two locations for Southern and Northern zones, saying that Southern Zone will be in Benin while Northern Zone will be in Kano.
The 20 committee members are: Prince Clem Ikanade Agba Hon. Minister of State (HMS) Budget and National Planning, Mr. Fred Kafeero FAO Country Rep, Mrs Dede Ekoue IFAD Country Rep, Mr. David Stevens, WFP Country Director, Engr. Nebeolisa Anako Permanent Secretary – BNP Fed Min of Finance Budget and National Planning, Alh. Aliyu Ahmed Permanent Secretary – Finance Permanent Secretary BNP, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Mary Ukoette Bassey, Permanent Secretary Akwa Ibom Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Christopher Joseph Udoh, Permanent Secretary Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Economic Planning, and Mrs. Mariam Shehu Permanent Secretary Borno State Ministry of Economic Planning.
Others are: Alh. Bulama Gana Permanent Secretary Borno State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Okafor Sunday Ogochi Ag. Permanent Secretary Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Ngene Emeka Chime Ag. Permanent Secretary Enugu State Ministry of Economic Planning, Hajia Laurat Ado Diso Permanent Secretary Kano State Ministry of Economic Planning, Alh. Salisu Tahir Permanent Secretary Kano State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Yaqub Umar Jaja Permanent Secretary Kwara State Ministry of Economic Planning, Mr. Abdullahi Wahab Kayode Ag. Permanent Secretary Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Obajomo Ibrahim Amodu Permanent Secretary Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning, Mrs. Tokunbo Emokpae Permanent Secretary Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Dr. Sanjo Faniran National Convenor FMBNP.
Olude Omolade (Mrs)
Principal Information Officer
For: Director, Information(BNP)
