Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has launched a Zero
Hunger Strategic Initiative to end hunger and poverty in Nigeria by the year
2030.
The four states of
Ebonyi, Benue, Ogun and Sokoto would kick-start the five-year pilot programme
aimed at exploiting the agriculture potential of the country.
Obasanjo, who is the
Chairman of the Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum, at the launch of the Strategic
Review Report, said the country has begun a new journey that would redefine the
destiny of hundreds of millions of people in Africa in general and Nigeria in
particular.
The ex-president
explained that the actions recommended in the report would be implemented in
all the 36 states including the FCT from January 2017.
He added that the forum would support, encourage and monitor
progress in the four pilot states, disclosing that the governors of these
states have agreed to implement the Zero Hunger Roadmap.
Obasanjo further
explained that the forum has put a time frame for the achievement of the goals,
explaining that by January 2019 eight more states would be added to the focal
states and by January 2021 all 36 states plus Abuja would be included.
The Director General,
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Nteranya Sanginga,
said the report is innovative and IITA would offer advance technologies for all
the four pilot states.
Tony Elumelu, who spoke
on behalf of the sub committees, said the private sector has a major role to
play in the achievement of the Zero Hunger and the federal and state government
should be willing to provide the enabling environment.
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