FARA,AFRICA LEAD HOST CESDEV STUDENTS,REITERATE COMMITMENT TO FOOD SECURITY

By Tope  Musowo The Forum For Agricultural Research in Africa,(FARA) and Africa Lead, on Wednesday played host to the students from the Center for Sustainable Development,(CESDEV) University of Ibadan ,Nigeria,reiterating commitment to food security in Africa.

Both organisations based in the city of Accra ,Ghana,with focus in Agricultural research and food security respectively, were visited by the students of Development Practice Programme,(DPP) from the premier University  who have been on a-two -week field trip to Ghana,led by their Coordinator,Dr Olawale Olayide.

While the students were in FARA, the apex continental organisation responsible for coordinating and advocating for agricultural research-for-development. (AR4D),which serves as the technical arm of the African Union Commission on matters concerning agriculture science, technology and innovation.

The Executive Director, Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo ,seized the opportunity to motivate the younger generation, which according to him has always been his delight,telling them to make today count and use the opportunity of the international exposure to recalibrate their senses.

In his address, Dr. Akinbamijo said," it is only in the university you are to answer 4 out of 6 questions but in life outside the University,you will have to answer 7 out of 6 questions,which means there is no option.

Therefore,you need to be prepared and go for it,you have to be responsive,be relevant,you can't but be smart and be educated", Dr. Akinbamijo counselled.

Dr. Aggrey Agumya,the Director of Corporate Partnership & Communications for FARA,took the students through a session of presentation,intimating them with the challenges of food security in Africa,the place of FARA,how those challenges can be overcome and the feats achieved by FARA so far.

Meanwhile,at Africa Lead,Feed the Future’s primary capacity building program in sub Saharan Africa, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative.

The Regional Director for Africa,Carla Denizard,explained that,Africa Lead program works to help realize FTF’s and the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) goals of reduced hunger and poverty by building the capacity of champions, institutions and stakeholders to develop, lead and manage the structures needed for African-led agriculture transformation and food security.

Hence,the Lead Africa project in Nigeria named," Strengthening institutional Performance for An Agricultural Transformation" which started since Oct. 1, 2016,lasting till Sept. 30, 2017,is to achieve the overall goal of USAID Nigeria,through strengthening the Capacity of the Agri-business division within the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

Other targets include; to deliver technical assistance and coach FMARD staff in the ministry's regional and state offices to strengthen their M&E system. To also facilitate the joint Sector Review (JSR) process in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and to also build the capacity of key NSAs across the States in policy advocacy and engagement.

Taking a clue from the position of the President of African Development Bank,Dr. Akinwumi Adesina in his 2015 article on the subject; Unlucking Africa's Potentials to create wealth from Agriculture,where he wrote,"there is an unbelievable contrast today in Africa; How can a continent with such an abundance of arable land,water,and sunshine annually import food worth USD 35 billions?...this must change".

 In the light of this,the Workforce Development & Gender Advisor,DAI, Robyn Speed,rolled out various empowerment and support programmes available to encourage the younger generation who are interested in agri-business across Africa.