By Itohan Abara-Laserian
Lagos – The Lagos State Government says it is engaging stakeholders in a world class food security summit in November to explore potentials in agricultural value chains.
Mr Sanni Okanlawon, Special Adviser to Gov. Akinwumi Ambode on Food Security, made the disclosure at a news briefing on Tuesday in Lagos.
He said that arrangement has been concluded to explore the agricultural value chains potentialities of the state.
Okanlawon said that about 45 per cent of the nation’s skilled agricultural stakeholders were residing in the state, which meant an urgent need to plan for a sustainable and sufficient food production.
The governor’s aide said the summit was to provide a veritable platform for discourse on various investment opportunities in agriculture and agro-allied businesses.
Okanlawon said the summit would institutionalise a food security framework that would guarantee sustainable food security for its growing population
“The attainment of food security is imperative in any society.
“This underscores why countries in the world make considerable efforts to increase their food production capacity, in response to their population growth.
“Lagos State with its teeming population of over 22 million people and annual population growth rate of 6-8 per cent, one of the highest in the world, cannot afford to be an exception.
“In furtherance of its commitment to ensure food security in the state, and also optimally explore its agricultural value chain potentialities, the state government has resolved to organise the Lagos Food Security Summit and Exhibition.
“The summit aims at stimulating private investment in the sector, and ultimately optimistic of its vast agro-processing and agro-allied potentialities,’’ Okanlawon said.
He said there would be an opportunity for exhibition of agro-allied products, to exploit and maximise branding mileage, in line with international best practices.
The aide said that seasoned experts and professionals, locally and internationally from both the public and private sectors, had been carefully selected as facilitators, to make presentations and discuss at the summit.
Okanlawon highlighted the core interest of the present state administration as Public Private Partnership (PPP)-driven, to woo both local and international investors, for sustainable agricultural development.
One of the collaborators on the Summit, Mr Tayo Orekoya, Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Institutions, Training Consult (CITC), said the event would be a practical incentive to attract investors.
Orekoya said the summit would be divided into panel session, syndicate session (to discuss on agricultural value chains approach) and a special session.
He said participants would have the opportunities to be partners, delegates, visitors, exhibitors and prospective investors.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit, tagged: “Actualising Sustainable Food Security in Lagos State- a New Comprehensive Agenda,’’ would hold from Nov. 10 to Nov. 11.
