The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Lagos Chapter, has called on the government at all levels to leverage on urban planning to solve the challenges militating against food security in the country.
The experts, who gathered in Lagos for the lecture organised in honour of Past President of NITP, late Dr. Femi Olomola, said that it was out of place to be talking about food security without making reference to urban planning.
They noted that in most Nigerian urban centres, areas or locations once planned agricultural allocations have been turned to residential estates.
Bemoaning the situation, they said: “We can’t be talking about food security without talking about urban planning.”
They want the government to address the situation by giving priority to urban planning in the fight against food insecurity.
The Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Store Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Professor Lateef Sanni, who doubles as Guest speaker, identified inconsistency in policies and weak implementation mechanisms as bane of food security in Nigeria.
He explained that despite the beautiful past policies to revolutionized agriculture in the country the inability of successive governments to continue with the policies was among other factors causing food insecurity in the country.
He argued that weak implementation mechanisms also undermined efforts to support farmers and enhance food security.
According to the professor, to solve the issue of food insecurity, it is high time Nigeria returns to the former setting where there was cocoa and yam rebirth in the south west, groundnut and beans in the north and palm oil in the southeast.
He defined food security as the condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary need and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
In order for people to have food security, he said it must be available, affordable and accessible.
In his paper on the topic of discussion: “Climate Change and Food Insecurity in Nigeria: Challenges and Solutions», he said that climate change could impact decreased agricultural productivity, supply change disruptions, economic impacts, social and political challenges.
On possible solutions, the professor harped on capacity building and youth involvement in agriculture.
He urged the government and stakeholders to implement training programmes for farmers on best practices and promote knowledge transfer and innovation to empower communities to adapt to climate change.
Besides, he urged that the youth could be engaged in agriculture through modern technologies and creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs to drive innovation and sustainability in the sector.
The executive director at NSPRI in Ilorin pointed out that addressing the challenges posed by climate change to food security in Nigeria would require a multifaceted approach involving policy reforms, technological innovations, infrastructure development and community engagement.
“Collaboration between government, NGOs, international partners local communities is essential to achieving these goals and creating a sustainable future,” he said.
Chairman of NITP, Mr Tayo Awomosu, said the lecture was organized in partnership with Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), adding that it was organised in honour and in recognition of late Dr. Femi Olomola’s contributions to the town planning profession.
Also, Past President of NITP, Mr Toyin Ayimde, commended contributions made by late Olomola, describing him as a ‘fulfilling man ‘, who likes getting others fulfilled.
Ayinde, who decried that some designated areas located to be agricultural zones have been converted to residential areas, commended the two association – NITP and ATOPCON for organising the lecture, saying that theme of the programme was apt in view of the current food insecurity and economic challenges facing the country.
ATOPCON President, Mr Bisi Adedire, described late Olomola as a mentor, urging members of the institute to have a rethink as they emulate him in their dealings.
Adedire suggested that the institute should learn to be celebrating icons of the profession when they were still alive, instead of waiting for them to pass-on before celebrating their efforts. engaged in agriculture through modern technologies and creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs to drive innovation and sustainability in the sector.
The executive director at NSPRI in Ilorin pointed out that addressing the challenges posed by climate change to food security in Nigeria would require a multifaceted approach involving policy reforms, technological innovations, infrastructure development and community engagement.
“Collaboration between government, NGOs, international partners local communities is essential to achieving these goals and creating a sustainable future,” he said.
Chairman of NITP, Mr Tayo Awomosu, said the lecture was organized in partnership with Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), adding that it was organised in honour and in recognition of late Dr. Femi Olomola›s contributions to the town planning profession.
Also, Past President of NITP, Mr Toyin Ayimde, commended contributions made by late Olomola, describing him as a ‘fulfilling man ‘, who likes getting others fulfilled.
Ayinde, who decried that some designated areas located to be agricultural zones have been converted to residential areas, commended the two association – NITP and ATOPCON for organising the lecture, saying that theme of the programme was apt in view of the current food insecurity and economic challenges facing the country.
ATOPCON President, Mr Bisi Adedire, described late Olomola as a mentor, urging members of the institute to have a rethink as they emulate him in their dealings.
Adedire suggested that the institute should learn to be celebrating icons of the profession when they were still alive, instead of waiting for them to pass-on before celebrating their efforts.
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