Nigerian Lecturers Launch NGO to Drive Sustainable Food Security
A group of university lecturers has launched an organization to address Nigeria’s food security challenges through modern agricultural practices. The initiative, spearheaded by Dr Philips Nto, the Director of the Agribusiness Incubation Centre at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, is designed to mobilize Nigerians to embrace agriculture and adopt advanced farming technologies.
Speaking as a guest on a radio program in Umuahia, Dr Nto emphasized the urgency of tackling food insecurity, highlighting Nigeria’s abundant human resources and vast arable land as assets for achieving self-sufficiency. He noted that with the right approach, the country could produce enough food for domestic consumption and export, contributing significantly to its GDP.
The newly launched NGO, Renewed Hope Agenda for Sustainable Food Security, aims to grow into a national movement. Dr. Nto, a former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in Abia State, disclosed that able-bodied Nigerians, particularly job seekers, would be trained and encouraged to engage in agricultural activities. He expressed optimism that young people would develop an interest in farming once they received proper training and access to modern agricultural tools and techniques.
Addressing concerns about the N826.5 billion allocated to agriculture in the 2025 federal budget, Dr Nto argued that the allocation’s size was less important than coordinated efforts across all sectors. He pointed out that agriculture benefits indirectly from investments in security, infrastructure, and power, which collectively enhance farming activities.
“When we have security, good roads, and functional power systems, we support agriculture,” Dr Nto explained. “The critical message of the Renewed Hope Agenda is to encourage Nigerians to return to the land.”
Dr Nto also called for a review of federal policies, including removing fuel subsidies and adjusting foreign exchange rates and import tariffs on agricultural machinery, to create a more enabling environment for farmers. He proposed collaboration among Agribusiness Incubation Centres nationwide to pool resources, share knowledge, and drive innovative solutions for achieving sustainable food security.
He commended the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, for supporting the Agribusiness Incubation Centre and advancing President Bola Tinubu’s vision for universities of agriculture to lead the fight against food insecurity.
With the Renewed Hope Agenda, Dr Nto envisions a future where agriculture becomes a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic transformation, creating jobs, boosting exports, and eradicating food insecurity nationwide.
