Solving food insecurity is national security imperative, shield for peace, dignity —Ajibola Oladiipo, Head of Policy, NFSP

Ajibola Oladiipo is the Head of Policy at the Nigeria Food Security Project. He is the author of ‘Rising Together’ with expertise in public sector innovation, waste management and sustainability. In this interview with KINGSLEY ALUMONA, he speaks about his work on food security, public sector innovation, among others.

You have a bachelor’s degree in Food Technology, but now work mainly in the policy and sustainability sector. How were you able to acquire the skills in policymaking and governance work?

They are all connected. While my first degree is in Food Technology, my professional journey has been driven by a deep passion for public service. One that was inspired by my parents’ dedication. Working across sectors such as waste management, public health infrastructure, and government contracting exposed me to the critical role policies play in shaping society. I realized that many systemic challenges in Nigeria arise from gaps in policy implementation and governance.

My transition into policy was intentional and mission-driven. Though my academic background provided technical knowledge of food systems, the major obstacles to food security are structural, political, and institutional. Beyond the technical reasons, this path is very personal. I have long understood the vital role governance plays in society, and my experience made me see how hunger and hardship strip people of dignity despite their hard work.

At WestAfricaENRG, where I led projects improving urban waste management, environmental health, and public safety, I witnessed how a single policy can affect individual lives and transform communities. This experience deepened my commitment to public service.

These experiences strengthened my belief that policy must protect dignity and serve humanity whether in food security, sanitation, or beyond and I remain committed to continually upskilling to better contribute.

How would you explain food security in terms of governance and nutrition? Do you think solving food security challenges in Nigeria could help address some other problems facing Nigeria?

Food security is about people having access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to live healthy lives. It is fundamentally a governance issue. Its failure often fuels insecurity, unemployment, and crime. I’ve seen these effects firsthand in communities where food is scarce. Families break down, young people lose hope, and desperation grows. These aren’t just numbers in a report to me. They are people I’ve met, faces I can’t forget.

Good governance enables farmers to thrive, markets to function, and food to reach households. Nutrition is equally crucial. It’s not just about having access to quantity, but quality. Malnutrition can lead to a health crisis, weaken human capital, diminish productivity and burden the healthcare system.

So, yes, solving food insecurity is a national security imperative. It is both a shield and a seed for peace, dignity, and prosperity. Getting it right is safeguarding the future of our country.

Your profile states that you are the Head of Policy of the Nigeria Food Security Project. Tell us what this organisation is about.

The Nigeria Food Security Project is a collaborative platform that brings together farmers, logistics players, policy analysts, and researchers to position food security as a national policy priority. Our focus is on improving data transparency, fostering coordinated action, and addressing systemic challenges in Nigeria’s food supply chains.

As Head of Policy, I lead our strategic engagements with government agencies, donor partners, and civil society actors. My team develops policy briefs, supports legislative advocacy, and conducts systems assessments that inform evidence-based policymaking. We are laser-focused on impact driven by research and data.

Could you explain to us one of your recent works or projects where you worked to ensure food security and accessibility in the country?

I will highlight three interconnected efforts that reflect both policy innovation and institutional collaboration. 

First is the National Food Security Index (NFSI), launched as a strategic accountability tool. It evaluates all 36 states and the FCT across food security pillars and governance parameters. It drives accountability through data, moving conversations beyond politics towards targeted reform. Work is advancing for the 2025 scorecard which we expect will deepen sub-national commitments and open up new investment pipelines.

Second, our research collaboration at the University of Abuja is currently looking into retrofitting indigenous yam barns with IoT sensors to monitor storage conditions. What’s most fulfilling is knowing that this is primarily about preventing farmers from losing months of hard labour to spoilage, about parents being able to feed their children, about livelihoods being protected.

Beyond Agriculture Conference convenes young leaders doing impressive work in food systems, academia, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs to rethink food not just as a rural affair, but as a lever for national transformation. We have done this at the University of Abuja and the University of Maiduguri, where about 2,000 students have been engaged. Some of them now collaborate with us.

Among the federal, state, and local governments, which is more likely to easily address food insecurity problems in Nigeria?

State governments are best positioned to lead because agriculture is on the concurrent list, and food markets are local. States understand their terrains, crops, and communities best. However, the Federal Government must provide national direction, fiscal support, and enabling trade policies. Local governments are crucial for grassroots mobilisation and decentralisation of on-farm storage.

As citizens, we must demand accountability, support local farmers, reduce food waste, and pressure our representatives to prioritise food system reforms. Hunger is everyone’s fight.

Given the realities in the food markets, how would you rate President Bola Tinubu’s agricultural policies?

President Tinubu’s administration has shown commendable urgency in addressing the food crisis. However, the focus must now shift from short-term relief to long-term, systemic reforms for lasting resilience. While emergency grain releases play a critical short-term role, they need to be complemented by long-term strategies focused on infrastructure, finance, and systemic reforms.

I will advise that we champion a Food Systems Transformation Council that aligns ministries of Agriculture, Finance, Health, Trade, Works, Power and Environment toward a single vision. Invest in rural infrastructure, especially storage and cold chains. Provide affordable credit, not just for large-scale agribusinesses, but for youth-led and women-led ventures. And most importantly, digitise agricultural data systems to guide research and decisions. Agriculture should increasingly be seen not as a strategic pillar for national development and security.

Tell us about your engagements with Telleosis and its recent project funded by the Gates Foundation, which you were a part of.

My engagement with Telleosis on the Gates Foundation–funded project was strategic. I manage the development of the digital innovation component of a $4.6 million project focused on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by strengthening health system infrastructure and regulatory oversight.

We are working with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to deploy digital tools that upskill frontline health workers and improve service delivery. This intervention signals a critical shift to where smart investment meets institutional reform to drive sustainable impact.

On one of your LinkedIn posts, you stated that “Great policies do not stay on paper. They change lives.” In light of this, which food security policy would you recommend that would help with food sustainability in Nigeria?

Addressing hunger in Nigeria calls for treating food security as a governance imperative. Thankfully, Section 16A of the amended Constitution enshrines food security as an objective of the State. The most impactful step would be to enact a Right to Food Framework Law that guarantees every Nigerian’s legal right to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food.

And this is not just some legal activism. This is both economic sense and moral clarity. A Right to Food Law would compel institutional accountability, strengthen local food systems, and move food security from ad hoc palliatives to long-term planning. It would give 133 million Nigerians living in poverty a voice and a claim on the state.

For Mr President, this is legacy territory. Just as UBE guaranteed education, this could guarantee nourishment. Just as health insurance was made universal, food access can become a fundamental right. It would be great if history remembers this presidency not for managing hunger but for systematically ending it.

Apart from the food and agriculture sector, what other things do you do? And where do you see yourself and your career in five years?

I wear several hats. While food and agriculture are central to my mission, they are part of a broader focus on public sector innovation. My work also includes waste management, digital innovation, and civic leadership. I am committed to advancing systems that make public services more transparent, data-driven, and people-centred.

I am a Fellow of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship and a public educator. Through dialogues, podcasts, and civic platforms, I help young people understand that governance is not just about elections but about how we shape our communities. I bring together farmers, students, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to turn ideas into action.

This work is personal to me. Growing up, I saw how the lack of food, opportunity, and justice takes dignity away from people. That stays with me. It shapes how I think about service, leadership, and responsibility. I want to look back knowing I helped communities move from hunger to hope and from fear to opportunity.

In the future, I see my role evolving towards public office where these ideas can become public policy. Whether as a Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, a Parliamentarian, or a Governor, my focus will remain service, integrity, and building lasting systems and help ensure that no Nigerian is left behind whether in the farm, in the classroom, or in the marketplace.

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