The Federal Government (FG) has designated Osun State as the central coordinating hub for the implementation of the Food System Transformation Pathways in the South West geopolitical zone.
Oluomo Kolapo, the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment in a statement on Tuesday said the initiative aims to enhance nutritious and sufficient food production across Nigeria.
Kolapo explained that the Food System Transformation Pathways, initiated by the United Nations, seeks to establish well-functioning food systems that will generate higher incomes for smallholder farmers and small to medium-sized food enterprises, empower women, create job opportunities for youth, and stimulate economic circulation.
Additionally, Kolapo outlined the goals of the Food System Transformation Pathways for 2030, which include reducing poverty and unemployment—especially among young people—mitigating hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, decreasing reliance on food imports while promoting sustainable food trade, increasing the index score for women’s empowerment in agriculture, and enhancing environmental performance.
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Kolapo noted that in a letter addressed to Governor Ademola Adeleke and copied to his counterparts in Oyo and Ekiti states, as well as the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu indicated that the coordination of the Food System Transformation Pathways in Oyo and Ekiti states will be managed from Osun State.
Kolapo emphasised that this decision aligns with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s efforts to achieve nutritional security and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) objectives in the country.
“Your Excellency may wish to be informed that the coordination of the Three States in the South West Zone is part of efforts to complement the steps towards achieving nutritious and food security as well as SDGs in Nigeria. This is also part of the step being taken to deepen the achievement of Nigeria as presented at the Stock Taking Moment (STM) in Rome that was led by H.E Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON from 24-26 July, 2023.
“The coordination arrangement is to consolidate on the agreed recommendations at the Retreat of the State Commissioners of Economic Planning, Agriculture and Health held in Abuja from 7- 8 March, 2024 that reiterated the need for quarterly review of implementation on geopolitical zonal basis.
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“The Honourable Commissioners for Economic Planning, Agriculture and Health in all the 36 States plus the FCT will therefore be expected to work together for effective delivery of the implementation strategy and multisectoral plan of action for food and Nutrition.”
