In a bid to address Nigeria’s growing food security challenges, Shield Africa, a non-profit organization, has called for urgent action to safeguard the country’s agricultural sector, which is under increasing pressure due to population growth and climate-related issues.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer of Shield Africa, Mrs. Osenaga Orokpo, stressed the importance of strategic interventions in agriculture to avert a looming food crisis.
“These are interesting times that hit Nigeria harder because of our population, and it’s very important for certain steps to begin to come to fruition. If we don’t take these steps now, we are going to run into disaster, and the issue is really centred on food security,” Orokpo warned.
Orokpo added that Shield Africa is collaborating with the government to empower youth and women in agriculture, as part of a broader initiative to boost food security.
“Through strategic interventions in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and education, we aim to address critical challenges such as food insecurity, poverty, and climate change,” Orokpo said.
She also highlighted the devastating impact of recent floods, which have not only claimed lives but also destroyed crops, exacerbating the food crisis.
“We are aware of the disaster that floods bring, not just to human life but to crops. This calls for a great deal of collaboration and commitment,” Orokpo said, stressing the need for immediate support to flood-affected communities.
She also commended the National Agricultural Growth Scheme launched by President Bola Tinubu, aimed at supporting young farmers and boosting agricultural productivity to ensure zero hunger.
Shield Africa, she noted, is already working on projects that align with government initiatives to provide agricultural inputs and support to farmers.