Nigeria joins Ecosystem- based Adaptation for Food Security Assembly (EBAFOSA)

EBAFOSA

Nigerian government yesterday officially at Sheraton hotel in Abuja joined other African countries in using Ecosystem-based Adaption to ensuring food security as its branch was launched at Sheraton Hotel Abuja with the theme “Re-shaping Nigeria Food Security and Climate Change Resilience through EBAFOSA”.

 Present at the lunch is the Regional Climate Change Coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme – Dr Richard Munang, The Deputy Country Director- Programme, United Nations development Programme- Mandisa Mashologu, The Deputy Director of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development- Mr. Opara .G. Obinna, The Director Administration, Ministry of Budget & National Planning- Mr. Chris Eze Ezeilo and relevant stakeholders.

 EBAFOSA seeks to combat food insecurity, climate change, ecosystems degradation and poverty in Africa using an innovative approach that decentralizes the development and application of the policy solutions in the least bureaucratic channel to ensure immediate results are recorded at the grassroots in an inclusive, participatory way towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 Also EBAFOSA is the first ever inclusive pan-African framework and platform, an institution with protocols, a constitution and rules of procedure adopted in an inclusive  continental process , guiding its actions, that provides a platform for all stakeholders in a country, from governments and their agencies, the public sector, private   sector, educational and research institutions, individual publics/citizens, CBOs, international intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, CSOs etc. to collaborate in a  participatory way in developing and implementing policy solutions to upscale EBA-driven agriculture and its value chains toward ensuring sustainable inclusive growth  in Africa. EBAFOSA does not re-invent the wheel, but rather provides an optimized channel to implement existing and envisaged grandeur development plans for the continent. Consequently, its principal mandate is to support the implementation of the various continental and global blue-prints on food security and sustainable industrialization and development.

 

The President, Nigerian National Branch (NNB) Mr. Oyesola James Oluwagbemiga during an interview said that the official launch would enhance EBAFOSA framework being integrated into the agricultural value chain and ecosystem- based approach stressed that efficient resource uses, waste management and social inclusion to rural farming would be well supported to achieving ecosystem-based food security.

Mr. Oluwagbemiga  said that “EBAFOSA  holds distinct benefits to Nigeria food sector, such as:  to enhance food and nutritional security; to enhance ecosystem productivity; build community climate resilience; enhance value chains by linking on farm production with opportunities for both demand and supply value chains, as jobs and income is created”.

He stresses that in order to operationalize EBAFOSA approaches in the Nigeria, our  focus should be to safeguard Nigeria’s food and livelihood security through “Reform policies and institution, embedding  ‘good’ policies in both the public and the private sector, for example, through budgetary allocation to programmes and projects that can enable scaling up of EbA approaches, Strengthen knowledge management by including both indigenous and scientific knowledge, Increase communication and outreach, Support capacity building and Reinforce economic incentives and private sector engagement”.

Also the Regional Climate Change Coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme – Dr Richard Munang, said that EBAFOSA is created to upscale Ecosystem-based agricultural policies in Africa. Launched after the 2^nd Ecosystem Based Adaptation Agriculture for Food Security Conference held by UNEP in Nairobi during July 30-31 2015, this new international body seeks to combat food insecurity, climate change, ecosystems degradation and poverty in Africa in a decentralized and inclusive manner. 

 EBAFOSA implementation is strategically categorized into three phases- introductory, growth and maturity, with each subsequent phase building on a preceding one. The introductory phase considered as the most-crucial which aims to secure commitment of the vital stakeholders, who will be the foundation of EBAFOSA. Implementation envisages activities on two levels - strategic and operational.

The Minister, Agriculture Chief Audu Ogbeh ably represented by Mr. Opara Obinna said that the present administration was aware of the effect of climate change on crops towards achieving the 20 million metric ton of food into the nation’s market saying promotion of climate smart agriculture strategic alliance with relevant NGOs in the EBAFOSA would be embraced and supported with registration on line.