NIGERIA MUST GROW IT’S OWN FOOD, FOR FOOD SUFFICIENCY – ADESINA 12-07-24
By Sadiq Aminu President, African Development Bank ADB, Dr Adewumi Adesina says importation of food and other agricultural products will not bring down the high price of food but increase poverty, unemployment, and instability in the country.
Dr. Adesina, who stated this at the opening of a three day meeting of African Primates of the Anglican Church holding in Abuja said Nigeria must grow its own food for food sufficiency.
The African Development Bank Boss maintained that for the country to uphold its integrity, the federal government must not depend on other countries to feed its citizens.
According to him, African countries must strengthen its agricultural policies towards harnessing the ADB programs, which will not only bring food to the table of Africans but eradicate poverty in the continent.
He said the continent has the arable land that could produce food for the whole world when the needed policy and technology are applied.
According to him, not less than 280 million people are hungry in Africa with a high rate of malnutrition.
He urged the church to invest in agriculture as the bank was ready to support religious institutions ready to prioritize food production through the involvement of youths.
“Sixty per cent of 85 million Anglicans in the world come from Africa, so the Anglican church can lead the crusade against starvation and hunger in the continent.”
Dr. Adesina assured that huge investment in agriculture would address the mass exodus of African youths to Europe and other developed countries.
” African Youths must be encouraged with great investment to drive development in the continent”.
He urged the church to also provide incentives for women in agriculture to grow the food needed in Africa.
Earlier, Primate Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba said the meeting provided another opportunity for Anglican leaders in Africa to come together towards addressing political instability, hunger and starvation as well as new strategies for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba reminded them on the need not to allow civilization pollute or indoctrinate the true words of God.
According to him, Africa must not allow pressure from western world follow wrong doctrine.
The vice President, Council Of The Anglican Provinces Of Africa and Primate Anglican Church of Kenya Most Reverend Jackson Ole stressed the need for Church leaders to leverage on the modern technology for the spreading of Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Most Reverend Jackson Ole urged the participants to ensure that the outcome of the meeting addressed the challenges confronting local church and integrate them to contribute to the development of the continent.
Anglican Primates from Fifteen Anglican countries are attending the meeting with the theme: “Council Of The Anglican Provinces Of Africa: An Instrument of Authentic Life For Africa.”