World Food Day 2024:  Championing Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture

In an effort to champion the strides for a hunger-free future, The World Food Day community-based sensitization was held to raise awareness about sustainable agriculture, food security, and the importance of establishing planting hubs in individual homes. The event, hosted by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems and chaired by Honourable Commissioner Abisola Olusanya, was organized in partnership with the BATN Foundation, Tropical General Investment (TGI) Group, and other private groups. The sensitization awareness kicked off from Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park, opposite the Lagos House of Assembly in Ikeja and its environs. The walk symbolizes a collective commitment to promoting sustainable practices that ensure food security for all.

This year’s theme, “Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future,” emphasizes the urgent need for innovative solutions to combat food insecurity, particularly through local initiatives and sustainable agriculture that promote self-sufficiency. The critical need for sustainable food system was chaired. Individuals, families, and communities were encouraged to adopt sustainable practices such as home planting hubs, urban gardening, and community farms. These grassroot efforts play a crucial role in building resilient food systems that can respond to future challenges.

Food is essential for human survival, and food security, as defined by the United Nations Committee on World Food Security, means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life. A nation that guarantees food availability to all its citizens becomes stronger and more stable; however, food insecurity renders a country vulnerable and overly dependent on external aid.

Lagos State, the smallest state in Nigeria, occupies a unique position with its complex network of lagoons, rivers, and water bodies constituting 22% of its territory. Yet, it is also the most populous state, making access to food critical. Identifying and implementing solutions that support both farming and food security is essential to the state’s future.

In 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture developed a 5-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap aimed at increasing food production to 40% self-sufficiency by 2025, up from the current 20%. This Roadmap outlines strategies to encourage youth participation, stimulate private sector investment, attract donor funding for agricultural projects, and create new partnerships across the agricultural value chain, focusing on areas where Lagos has competitive and comparative advantages.

Honourable Abisola Olusanya commended the Lagos State Government’s continued efforts toward food security, emphasizing the need for unified and intensified actions to build more sustainable food systems. She highlighted the importance of scaling food production and processing, reducing food waste, and providing decent livelihoods for Lagosians. “Food security is crucial in bringing families together,” she said, noting that food is an integral part of Nigerian society and the cultural heritage of Lagos.

Odiri Erewa-Meggison, Board member, BATN Foundation, emphasized the significance of the day’s activities, saying, “Today is not just about walking together; it’s about walking towards a future where no one has to worry about their next meal. It’s about ensuring our communities thrive, our environment is protected, and our efforts to drive food security remain strong.”

Odusanya Oludare, General Manager of the Foundation, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to sustainable agriculture. “Our partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture & Food systems and other stakeholders is driven by a shared vision for sustainable agriculture. We must invest in agricultural innovations, promote planting hubs in homes, and communities, reduce food waste, and build resilient, sustainable food systems,” he said.

The walk serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility toward fostering sustainability within communities, aligning with the global goal of food security and ensuring that no one is left behind. As World Food Day approaches on October 16, it becomes clear that sustainable agriculture is no longer an option but a necessity to secure the future of our communities.

Let us work together to build sustainable food systems that guarantee long-term food security for all.