The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security have agreed to collaborate on food security initiatives.
The agreement was reached when the President of NSE, Mrs. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, in Abuja.
In a statement, Mrs. Oguntala emphasized the importance of food security for growth, poverty reduction, and human well-being.
She highlighted the need for pragmatic and proactive measures to address the challenges facing Nigerians in this area.
The NSE president reiterated Society’s commitment to supporting food security initiatives in the country and recognized the leading role of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
She then presented a proposal for a major program aimed at boosting agricultural activities, known as the Agriculture Entrepreneurial Development Programme.
The program aims to enhance the agricultural sector’s productivity and innovation by equipping engineers with entrepreneurial skills and providing them with access to advanced engineering solutions.
It also involves the establishment of demonstration farms and engineering villages across the six geo-political zones, where engineers can apply their expertise in mechanized farming, irrigation systems, and sustainable agricultural practices.
The hubs will serve as innovation incubators where new agricultural technologies can be developed and tested.
Mrs. Oguntala also emphasized the need for collaboration between emerging and senior agricultural entrepreneurs, and the goal of attracting funding partners from key government parastatals to support the program.
The NSE President also informed the Minister about the society’s upcoming 2024 International Engineering Conference, Exhibition, and Annual General Meeting, which will be held in Abuja from November 18th to 22nd, with the theme “Sustainable Engineering Solutions to Food Security and Climate Change.”
In response, Sen. Kyari expressed his ministry’s willingness to partner with NSE, citing the importance of leveraging the society’s knowledge resources to deliver on government set goals on food security.
He acknowledged that Nigeria has faced challenges in food production for far too long and that a new strategy is required to reverse the trend.
Sen. Kyari also highlighted the challenges faced by the country, including the scourge of COVID-19, perennial flooding, insecurity, and the currency redesign, which have all affected production and put citizens in a precarious situation.
He agreed to partner with NSE on all areas presented to him by the President of the body.
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