The House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, with Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, PhD, as Chairman, has commenced a 3- day retreat, in Owerri, centered on Galvanizing Legislative Agenda for Nutrition and Food Security in Nigeria.
The retreat which has the Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Kashim Shettima present, in representative capacity also had the Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Dr. Abbas speaking through Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha.
The chairman of Conference of Speakers of Houses of Assembly, in Nigeria and Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Edward Ogundoyin led other speakers to the event and anchored the panel discussion, during which he hailed the determination of Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor towards making impact in area of Food Security, with the new committee and gave assurance that the speakers will bring the Nigerian Governors forum on the same page with the mandate of the House of Reps Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, which is to eradicate food insecurity in Nigeria using the legislative tool.
The event which was moderated by Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe and Prof. Emma Ibekwe also has notable resource persons like a Professor of Nutrition, Olivia Chinyere Afam-Anene of Imo State University, Owerri and Dieticians Association of Nigeria, Mr. Koffy Dominique Kouacou, representing Food and Agriculture Organisation, Nigeria, and Mr. Michael Ójó of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.
Other resource persons include, Dr. Ritgat Tilley-Gyado of World Bank, Dr. Neemat Haeebhoy of UNICEF, Dr. Osita Okonkwo of Nutrition International, Mr. Sugra Mahmood of Federal Ministry of Agric and Food Security, Dr. Serigne Mbacke Loum of World Food Programme just to mention a few.
The various resource persons highlighted the need to give the committee the needed support to succeed in their onerous task to tackling food insecurity.
Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, in his address gave kudos to the Reps Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dr. Abbas for his foresight in birthing this new committee and finding in him a worthy pathfinder to pioneer the committee. He also thank the Vice President, His Excellency, Sen. Kashim Shettima, in whose office the Nutrition core working committee is domiciled and who is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that food insecurity menace is confronted headlong and eliminated. He also thanked the performing Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Sen. Hope Uzodimma for his infrastructural revolution in the State, which made choosing the State capital for the retreat a reality. He announced that the committee, under his watch will continue to consult with all partners and relevant Ministries, agencies and Departments, towards ensuring that the common man has food to eat and that farmers can go to farm without fear of molestation.
The Committee on Nutrition and Food Security which has 35 members were fully in attendance, including some Imo State Reps like Hon. Tosca Okere, Hon. Emeka Chinedu, Hon. Attorney Matthew Nwogu, Hon. Barr. Harrison Nwadike, and Princess Miriam Onuoha.
The retreat continues tomorrow till it runs its full course.