FG Says Prioritising Food Security Is Key To Economic Growth, National Development
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria has said it will prioritise food security, safety so as to ensure economic growth and maintain sustainable and national development.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji Geoffrey, who said this at the commissioning ceremony of the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST) Data Base Management Centre today in Abuja, noted that reducing the risk of food insecurity in the country will require technological solutions towards collaborative efforts across agriculture, food science and technology, nutrition and health programmes.
He further said that as the focal Government Council responsible for regulating the food Science and Technology profession, the Council will usher into the country, a new era of professional practice within the food industry and the national food supply system.
According to the Minister, the regulatory framework of the Council is crucial to reducing unprofessional practices and management along the food value chain and its economic benefits, by ensuring sustainable national food security.
Chief Nnaji also said stated that this is the first time in Sub-Saharan Africa that Food Science and Technology Profession have a regulatory Council and emphasized that the Centre represents a collaborative effort between the Ministry and NiCFOST, reflecting shared commitment to advancing Food Science and Technology regulation in Nigeria.
The Minister noted that Nigerian food is steadily becoming popular overseas and increasingly available at local shops, adding that optimization of the benefits of the export market trends will help in the economic diversification of the country.
He recalled that he had recently signed some certificate of registration for newly registered professionals and therefore called on all Food Science and Technology professionals to take advantage provided by the establishment Act to register with the Council.
The Registrar of the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST) Mrs. Veronica Nkechi Eze, had earlier said that NiCFoST is a regulatory Council that was established 3years ago, amidst the constraints of Covid-19 Pandemic, and its mandate is to regulate the practice and profession on food Science and Technology in Nigeria.
She counted some of the reasons for establishing the Council to include promoting professional practices for food safety, prevent post-harvest losses, improve the competitiveness of the Nigerian food products, promote export of the country’s food as well as contribute to the overall food security of the nation.
