The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has assured the National Forum of Food Security and Nutrition of the needed support to ensure food sufficiency in the country.
Elder Udeme Otong, Speaker of the state assembly gave the assurance when he played host to the Chairman of the Forum and Majority Leader of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Tolulope Ige, and his team, at the Assembly Complex, Uyo.
Otong, while congratulating Ige on his recent election to head “the very important body,” noted that Akwa Ibom State is known for good cuisines as leaders in positions of authority, including Legislators, were always in close contact with their constituents, thereby enhancing the production of various types of food crops that enhance good and balanced feeding.
Elder Otong informed the delegation’s leader that the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has taken food availability as one of the vital points in his ARISE Agenda through the free distribution of essential food items to the vulnerable under Bulk Food Purchase Agency and declaration of farm days, to enable the workforce to return to their farms in the state.
Earlier in his remarks, the National Chairman, of the Forum of Committees on Food Security and Nutrition, Hon. Tolulope Ige, informed the Speaker that they were in the State for an advocacy and assessment visit, where they would interface with stakeholders, so as to ensure that they succeed in their task of ensuring food security and adequate nutrition.
He emphasized the need to build capacity in this direction, even as he noted that it was very assuring that legislators were key players used to drive the initiative.
The lawmaker gave assurances that the Network was committed to tackling the sorry indices of stunted growth in children as presented by the National Demographic Institute and called on all hands to be on deck.
Hon. Ige, while thanking the Speaker for his assurances of support, expressed hope that Akwa Ibom State would reap bountifully the rewards that will soon be harvested.
Also making remarks, the Chairman, of the Committee on Food Security and Nutrition, Hon. Moses Essien, while welcoming Hon. Ige to the State, noted that it was pertinent to deepen the knowledge of partners and stakeholders to be properly educated on the ways to eradicate food insufficiency.
Essien, who is the National Public Relations Officer ( PRO ) of the group, emphasized that the network was coming with the vision to ensure proper nutrition to eradicate issues of stunted children growth prevalent in some States of the Federation.
It would be recalled that Speaker Otong, during the Plenary of 23rd November 2024, constituted a 10-man committee on Food Security and Nutrition headed by the member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency.
The Speaker explained that the constitution of the committee was a sequel to the directive from the Conference of Nigerian Speakers to all State Assemblies.
