NAADI sustainability is a function commitment says Prof. Ayoola.

Prof. Gbola Ayoola speaking with journalist 

The Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment (FMITI) consultant to its Nigeria-Agricbusiness and Agro Industry Initiative (NAADI), Prof. Gbola Ayoola has said that the sustainability industrial frame plan for the agro industrialization in Nigeria was a function of strong political will with many variables of which funding was very strategic towards achieving commercial agro business of processing and value addition.

Prof. Ayoola said that the activation of moribund processing centers for value addition would create global competitive markets with increase in the income generation and job creation for the people in the country, just as it will checkmate importation of foods into the country thereby reducing foreign deficit of the nation. 

Representative of the Gov. of Akwa-Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, Dr . Moses Ekpo in blue kafta and blue cap, Permanent Sec. FMITI, Deacon Edet Sunday Akpan  , Coordinator Federation of Agricultural Commodities (FACAN)  Akwa- Ibom Chapter, Mr. Harward Usen in black cap, at the  the official Commissioning of the Uyo Zonal office for the implementation of the Nigeria-Agricbusines and agro industry Initiative (NAADI) by the PS of the FMITI.

He stated this in an interview with Food Farm News at the official commissioning of the South-South zonal office for the implementation of NAADI by the Akwa- Ibom state Government at Uyo as the place will be managed by the Federation of Commodities Associations of Nigeria (FACAN) in the zone.

Responding to questions Prof. Ayoola said that “ the sustainability of the project is under a number of assumptions as to what happens in the future which includes sustainable environment, sustainable funding, and sustainability of the market itself in terms of mechanism of ensuring consumption and the exportation of the processed products. All these assumptions are reasonable assumptions to me as sustaining NAADI across all the zones of the federation under a policy environment that is committed to agricultural development and transformation, and with the support of the international financial Institutions backing it up until the farmers get to the point of competiveness of being able to carry it forward on an anchor of smooth take off and progressive implementation in the medium and long times”

Speaking on behalf of the Government of Akwa-Ibom state, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Moses Ekpo pointed that the economic agenda of the state was in tandem with NAADI philosophy of diversifying from crude oil to agricultural development of processing and value addition to raw produce at a competitive price towards local consumption and export, thereby creating wealth and job opportunity for the people.

According to him “I want to thank the FMITI for choosing to establish the zonal office for the implementation of NAADI in Akwa-Ibom state. I see this decision as an expression of confidence in the agriculture and industrialization agenda of our state. The present government of Akwa-Ibom is powered by five point agenda of job creation, poverty alleviation, wealth creation, economic and political inclusion as well as infrastructural consolidation and expansion. It is obvious from the perusal of the working document of NAADI that there exist clear overlap of goals and strategies between our agenda and the plan architecture for NAADI. 

To match vision with action, Akwa-Ibom state government has in the past three years focused attention and resources on people centered policies, programmes and projects targeted at catalyzing significant progress in Agricbusiness and agro industrial development. In order to create enabling environment for these subsectors to thrive we have invested massively to boost power supply in Akwa-Ibom state, ensure electricity of rural areas, build and maintain roads, bridges and drainages. Our government has also placed priority on security of lives and property in a conscious effort to make the state a safe haven for business, investment and industrialization”