Food security: Solution lies in leveraging digital technologies – NSE

Engineers in the country, under the aegis of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), have said that the country’s present food security challenge may be solved by leveraging digital technologies.

Speaking during the third annual Engineer Lanre Sagaya Distinguished Lecture of the NSE, Ilorin branch, on Tuesday, themed Addressing Food Security in Nigeria Through Digital Infrastructure: Prospects, Challenges and Way Forward, the President/Chairman-in-Council of the group, Engineer Margaret Aina Oguntala, said that the country can unlock new opportunities for agricultural growth, streamline supply chains, and ensure that food reaches every corner of the nation by leveraging digital technologies.

The NSE President, who said that the theme for the lecture was both timely and crucial, noted that the issue of food security has never been more pressing in the face of a global economic meltdown.

“We cannot ignore the fact that food security is a fundamental pillar of national development, and as Engineers, it is our responsibility to contribute innovative solutions to this challenge. Digital infrastructure has the potential to transform the way we approach food production, distribution, and consumption in Nigeria.

“By leveraging digital technologies, we can unlock new opportunities for agricultural growth, streamline supply chains, and ensure that food reaches every corner of our nation.”

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The guest speaker, Engineer Dr. Umar Bindir, who was a former SSA to President Muhammadu Buhari, said that food security is all about using technology, expertise, and knowledge to ensure the production of adequate and quality food items for the people at affordable prices.

Bindir also said that the nation should be more committed to food security, adding that food security would be achieved when researchers, technologists, businesspeople in agriculture, and other professionals produce enough crop and animal food for the people.

Also speaking, Chairman of the NSE, Ilorin branch, Engineer Dr. Olusola Ogunjirin, said that the annual gathering of the Distinguished Lecture had served as a platform for intellectual discourse, knowledge sharing, and fostering collaboration among engineers, policymakers, and industry leaders.

“Each year, this lecture provides us with valuable insights into contemporary engineering challenges and innovations that drive national growth,” he said.

Dr. Ogunjirin said that the event was not just a lecture but a celebration of excellence, professionalism, and the remarkable contributions of Engineer Sagaya to the field of engineering and national development.

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