Ekiti State government has reiterated its commitment to implementing the policy on Food and Nutrition which is an offshoot of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition that provides a framework for addressing problems of food, nutrition and insecurity as it affects individuals, households and communities in the state.
The State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Femi Ajayi stated this at a two – day review meeting of the State Policy on Food and Nutrition, and State Strategic Plan of Action (SPAN) held at Ikere Ekiti.
Mr Ajayi stated that the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan of Action guides the identification, design and implementation of intervention activities across different sectors in food and nutrition, providing cost breakdown by priority areas and years in Naira to help implement the Policy in Ekiti State.
The Commissioner went on memory lane, saying the journey that led to the domestication of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition that is currently being reviewed started with the inauguration of the Ekiti State Committee on Food and Nutrition in 1998.
“However, it became inoperable due to some challenges. These challenges were eventually surmounted and the committee was resuscitated in 2016 with membership cutting across relevant MDAs in the State” Mr Ajayi stressed.
He said the present review was aimed at capturing today’s realities in the value chain with attention to achieving food and nutrition security in the country.
The Budget Commissioner informed the gathering that Oyebanji’s administration is committed to the development of a sustainable food system in the State, hence has approved the composition of the State Steering Committee of Food System Transformation Implementation Strategy.
This Strategy, according to him, will promote the domestication of the Committee on Food and Nutrition at all the Local Government Councils in the State and also key into the Federal Government “N774 Program” in Ekiti State.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Sola Akinluyi informed the gathering that the emerging concerns in the science, practice and programme of food and nutrition necessitated the current review of the National Food and Nutrition Policy being undertaken at the national level.
He charged participants to fully brainstorm on the review of the existing State Policy on Food and Nutrition, with a view to having a more robust Policy Document on the reflects today’s realities on food and nutrition.
“The outcome of this review meeting will not only be all-inclusive but will capture all concerns with respect to food security in Ekiti State”, Mr Akinluyi stressed.
The Permanent Secretary expressed gratitude to governor Oyebanji for the prompt payment of Government Counterpart Cash Contribution to facilitate easy access of Draw Down from Donor Agencies and approval of Expression of Interest of the State Government to participate in UNICEF Match -funding for Nutrition Programmes.
He acknowledged the support from the Commissioner, Mr Femi Ajayi for the good leadership and his immense support from UNICEF, noting the support is yielding positive results and helping to achieve the Shared Prosperity Agenda of the present administration in Ekiti State.
He thanked the facilitators for their support and wished the participants a fruitful deliberation.
