The Honorable Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu,  has promised to strengthen the collaboration between the federal government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD , beyond the facilitation of support for the funding of Agriculture and Food Systems but in other critical areas that will make the impact of governance better felt by the masses.

Bagudu made the promise on Thursday when he received official of IFAD led by its Country Director,Dede  Ekoue in his office in Abuja

He thanked IFAD for the support which the organization had been providing in Nigeria before the assumption of office of the present administration and express the hope that the good developmental relationship will continue .

The Minister mentioned that IFAD funded the high-level session on ’’Nigeria’s Innovative financing for food system transformation: Leveraging Best Practices from Nigeria’’ in Rome chaired by the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Kazeem Shettima GCON, during the UNFSS +2 Stocktaking Moment in July this year .

He said , “I must commend IFAD for also empowering poor rural people, especially women, by increasing their access to resources, infrastructure and services, and to promote the management of land, water and common property by local communities, thus helping to combat environmental degradation.

“I am also aware that IFAD  is in partnership with Nigeria government to build capacity and strengthen institutions that provide services to rural people and assists with necessary policy changes, developing local organizations to enhance their effective participation, and promotes initiatives to foster rapid poverty reduction and economic growth.”

While welcoming the IFAD team, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Nebeolisa Anako, introduced the IFAD to the Honourable Minister as one of the three UN Agencies that were designated by the Secretary General of the United Nations to support the implementation of the Food System Transformation Pathways being coordinated by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

He noted that since the commencement of the implementation of the food systems transformation pathways, IFAD had been supporting the Ministry in different areas of economic growth and development.

The Country Director of IFAD , Dede  Ekoue, who led the IFAD team on courtesy visit to Senator Bagudu, congratulated the Minister on his well deserved appointment as Honorable Minister by the President, saying that the wide network of connection which the Minister has will make his job at the Budget Ministry easy.

She restated the commitment of IFAD to the activities of the Ministry under the leadership of Senator Bagudu in the area of implementing policies and support that will impact the lives of majority of Nigerians.

Ekoue recalled that the Food system transformation introduced by IFAD to the federal Government was successful in Nigeria due to the support received from the government .

The Country Director pleaded that the partnership between IFAD and the Ministry be sustained for more growth and innovativeness, just as she sought for the inclusion of farmers and all relevant actors in the policies and programs of the Ministry.

“ Let me state here that there should be emphasis on nutrition and food security in line with the Action Plan that was unveiled by the Vice President at the last  Food system summit .”

She described government’s investment in food systems transformation as an investment that would yield dividends in due time for the masses .

On his part, the Director, Social Development in the Ministry, Dr. Faniran informed that the federal government is already setting up a committee to oversee the entire process of food systems transformation so that the initiative can achieve its intended purpose through public private sector engagement.

 

OLUDE OMOLADE

PRINCIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER

FOR: DIRECTOR, INFORMATION (FMBEP)

31/08/2023