By Ahmed Rahma
The federal government is set to partner with the United Nations (UN) to hold the Nigeria National Food Systems Dialogue (NNFSD) 2021 in order to check the growing issues in food systems in the country.
The National Coordinator of the Dialogue and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mrs Olusola Idowu, who made disclosure on Thursday, said the dialogue is also to meet certain components of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to her, Food Systems Dialogue is preparatory to the Food Systems Summit scheduled to hold in September
Speaking at a webinar to draw the attention of stakeholders to issues relating to food systems, Mrs Idowu said that convening the Food Systems Summit was part of the Decade of Action to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
She said, “The Summit is aimed at launching a bold new action to deliver progress on all the 17 SDGs, each of which relates to a large extent healthier, sustainable and equitable food systems.
“The government of Nigeria is collaborating with the UN to organise the Nigeria National Food Systems Dialogue (NNFSD) 2021.
“Food systems touch every aspect of human existence. In Nigeria and elsewhere in the world, the management of food systems profoundly affects the health of the people as well as the health of the environment, economies and cultures.
“To ensure an inclusive and participatory dialogue, the Nigeria National Food System Dialogue is planned to be organised at three levels in advance of the summit billed to take place in September or October, 2021.
“These include Inception Dialogue aimed at identifying food system challenges from multiple perspectives, Exploration Dialogue planned to hold in the six geo-political zones and Consolidation Dialogue to exchange views on the pathway toward sustainable National Food Systems.”
She further explained that the dialogues would focus on the UN five action tracks namely, Ensuring Access to Safe and Nutritious Food for All; Shift to Sustainable Consumption Patterns; Boost Nature-Positive Production; Advance Equitable Livelihoods; Build Resilience to Vulnerabilities, Shocks and Stress.
The permanent secretary said that a theme had already been chosen for the dialogue, which is An Overview of the Food System in Nigeria – Challenges, Prospects and the Way Forward.
