Nigeria Zero Hunger holds second meeting in Abuja

The Nigeria Zero Hunger Strategic Review held its second meeting in Abuja this month, led by former President and IITA Goodwill Ambassador Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Attended by the chairs and representatives of the various working groups comprising nine areas (Food Security & Nutrition; Agricultural Research, Innovation, Intervention & Extension; Finances; Producer Needs Assessment; Infrastructures; Legislation; Implementation, Partnership and M&E). The meeting looked at the status reports and plans of each of the committees and discussed potential actions that will ensure zero hunger in Nigeria by 2030.

Nigeria has committed itself to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  and to being measured and monitored against progress towards the goals and targets that Heads of State and Government collectively decided upon at the September 2015 Special Summit held in New York. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 aims to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture” by 2030. A comprehensive countrywide perspective is needed to achieve the goals, and roles of the Government, private sector, civil society, and international development partners need to be clearly defined.

IITA and the United Nations World Food Programme is supporting former President Obasanjo to lead the Nigeria Zero Hunger Strategic Review that will help to clearly articulate what Nigeria will need to do to achieve SDG 2 of the 2030 Agenda. The findings and recommendations of the multistakeholder Strategic Review are intended to:

• Provide a comprehensive understanding of the food security and nutrition context of Nigeria;
• Identify key development and humanitarian challenges the country faces in achieving the zero hunger aspirations of SDG 2;
• Discuss the role of the private sector in achieving zero hunger, including food security and improved nutrition, and related fields;
• Propose actionable areas where partners can better support the country to make significant progress toward zero hunger; and
• Recommend milestones for a national Zero Hunger Roadmap.
• IITA provides secretariat and coordination services to the Review.