Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, is among eminent personalities who will meet on Thursday in Abuja to brainstorm on the major factors inhibiting the mass production, processing, and distribution of food in Nigeria.
According to a press release signed by the CEO of the Media Trust Group, Ahmed I. Shekarau, the Speaker has confirmed his participation as Special Guest of Honour at the 22nd Daily Trust Dialogue with the theme “Food Security: Availability or Affordability”.
The statement said that the founder and director general of the Songhai Farms based in Benin Republic, Rev. Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo, has accepted to chair this year’s Dialogue, which will be held at the NAF Conference Centre & Suites, Abuja. The Songhai Farm founder, renowned across West Africa for his excellence in agricultural production, is expected to share his experiences in various segments of the agricultural value chains, including the production of maggots to feed fish, production of a variety of farm produce, as well as the processing of many finished products such as soaps, baked foods, juices, jams, syrups, animal feed, etc.
Shekarau said in the statement that three eminent personalities with expertise in various agricultural sectors would be the guest speakers. They will examine various steps that Nigeria needs to take to end the hunger threatening millions of its citizens.
These personalities include the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, who has been a livestock expert, managing a large-scale poultry and dairy farm in Kaduna, the Zaidi Farm, before his current appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Also, among the guest speakers is Ms. Mira Mehta, an experienced executive in the agribusiness and consumer packaged goods sectors of the economy. According to the statement, Ms. Mehta is the CEO of Tomato Jos, an entity she co-founded.
The third guest speaker is Architect Kabir Ibrahim, the National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).
Other dignitaries expected at the 22nd Dialogue include The Farmer Governor of Niger State, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, chairmen and members of the Senate and House of Representatives committees on Agriculture, and the Managing Director of Urban Shelter, Mrs. Saadiya Aminu.
The statement said that former state governors, president and members of the Feed Industry Practitioners Association of Nigeria (FIPAN), the chairmen and members of various market associations as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from across the country, members of civil society organisations, development partners and diplomats are also expected at the event, which is open to the public for attendance.
The statement also disclosed that this year’s Dialogue would be combined with the presentation of Alhaji Wada Abdullahi Kachako, the winner of the 2024 Daily Trust Unsung Hero award.
The statement further revealed that the event will be broadcast live on Trust Television, which is on StarTimes Channel 164; NigComSat’s Free TV; Moreplex 715; AVO TV; LIMEX World TV, YouTube, as well as on Trust Radio, which streams online.
The annual Daily Trust Dialogue is part of the Media Trust Group’s contributions to stimulating discussions by Nigerians and fellow Africans to enhance national and African integration and cohesion, which are crucial for sustainable socio-political growth and economic development of Nigeria and the African Continent at large.
Since 2002, Media Trust has hosted the annual public lecture series to discuss topical issues on various aspects of governance. The series of Dialogues had been attended by past Heads of Government, the leadership of the National Assembly, as well as captains of commerce and industry, aside from members of the diplomatic corps.
The Daily Trust Dialogue had been graced at different times by eminent personalities across Africa. They include the late former President of Ghana, Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings; and Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, former Prime Minister of Tanzania. Others are the late Mrs Winnie Mandela of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, Dr Mo Ibrahim, founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, and Mrs Samia Nkrumah, daughter of the late Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Several serving and past presidents of the Nigerian Senate and speakers of the House of Representatives, governors and deputy governors also participated in the event over the years.
