By: Simeon Shodimu
The UN through its resident coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, has reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to support Nigeria in strengthening food systems, promoting climate resilience and accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mr Fall made this known at the ongoing two-day National Dialogue on Nigeria’s Convergence Initiative on Food Systems and Climate Action in Abuja on Thursday.
The dialogue brought together stakeholders from government, development partners, academia, civil society and the private sector.
It focused on aligning food systems transformation with climate action to support the achievement of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement targets.
He said the UN would continue to support nationally led efforts through the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.
“The United Nations remains a committed partner to Nigeria. Through the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, we will continue supporting nationally led efforts that strengthen food systems, promote climate resilience, empower women and young people, mobilise sustainable financing and accelerate progress towards the SDGs,” he said.
Mr. Fall described food systems as encompassing all activities involved in producing, processing, transporting and consuming food.
According to him, well-functioning food systems improve public health, protect the environment, strengthen economies and preserve cultures.
He recalled that the UN secretary-general convened the Food Systems Summit five years ago to galvanise global action towards sustainable food production and consumption.
According to Mr Fall, “the dialogue marked another important step in advancing resilient, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems in Nigeria. He commended the federal government for demonstrating leadership by bringing partners together to pursue a shared vision for food systems transformation.
“Nigeria continues to demonstrate that when national leadership is matched by strong partnerships, transformation is possible,” he said.
The deputy director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, Lara Rothe, said Nigeria had become the 22nd country to join the Convergence Initiative on Food Systems and Climate Action.
She said countries across the world were recognising the need to align food systems transformation with climate action.
Ms Rothe said Nigeria had shown a strong commitment since the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit by holding more than 40 national and local dialogues. According to her, the dialogues helped shape Nigeria’s Food Systems Transformation Pathway and identified 78 priority actions.
She reaffirmed the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub’s commitment to supporting Nigeria through continued collaboration with the government, the UN Country Team and other stakeholders.
Speaking during a technical panel session, UNICEF’s Chief of Nutrition, Nemat Hajeebhoy, stressed the need to prioritise nutrition in the transformation of food systems. She said improving food systems should go beyond ensuring food availability to guaranteeing access to nutritious diets.
“There is a need to improve food systems not just because people need to eat, but because the food they consume must provide adequate nutrition, especially for children to grow healthy,” she said.
