Varsity Calls For Strengthening Of Food System Resilience

University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)  has called  for  the strengthening of  policies on natural capital management, water security, climate-smart agriculture and food systems resilience.

It  made the call during the Policy Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture and Urban Water Systems organised by the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre – Environment for Development (REPRC-EfD Nigeria). The event featured the presentation of three major research studies addressing water scarcity, climate-smart agriculture and the impact of armed banditry on food security.

Declaring the event open, UNN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (UNEC), Prof. J. U. J. Onwumere, said the theme, “Sustaining Natural Capital: Policy Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture and Urban Water Systems,” aligns with the university’s commitment to producing evidence-based research for national development.

He described water, agriculture and security as “three critical pillars of Nigeria’s food system,” stressing that each of them is under severe pressure due to climate change, environmental degradation and rising insecurity.

“Water scarcity threatens agricultural productivity, climate change has disrupted rainfall patterns, and banditry has displaced thousands of farmers. These realities are directly undermining food security, peace, health and economic stability,” he said.

He commended REPRC-EfD Nigeria for generating research that supports policy solutions in water management, climate-smart agriculture and the socio-economic impacts of insecurity.

The UNN VC  also acknowledged support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), noting that the centre’s work feeds into a global network of Environment for Development (EfD) centres across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

He expressed hope that the Policy Day’s deliberations would “chart new pathways for sustainable water, agriculture and food security policies in Nigeria.”

In a speech, the Director of REPRC-EfD Nigeria, Prof. Nnaemeka Chukwuone, said the Policy Day serves as the centre’s yearly platform for presenting research findings to policymakers across federal and state agencies.

The  Deputy Director, Vulnerability and Adaptation, Jonah Barde,  who represented the Federal Ministry of Environment lauded  the collaboration with the UNN centre and stressed the urgency of strengthening climate policies in the face of worsening environmental challenges.

In her goodwill message, Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Barr. Mrs. Omotenioye Majekodunmi, represented by Ms. Chinwe Adindu, said the Policy Day aligns with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0 and recent COP30 commitments.

She said climate change is already intensifying water scarcity, degrading soils and worsening insecurity for rural communities.