Amid rising concerns over food security in Nigeria, Mrs. Osenaga Orokpo, CEO of Shield Africa Sustainability and Development Initiative, has called on the government and agricultural stakeholders to take urgent steps to prevent a national hunger crisis. Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on October 9, Orokpo stressed that Nigeria’s large population makes the country more vulnerable to food insecurity.
“If we don’t take those steps now, we are heading toward disaster very quickly,” Orokpo warned, emphasizing the importance of agriculture in tackling poverty and hunger. Shield Africa’s mission focuses on five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): no poverty, zero hunger, quality education, gender equality, and climate action.
She praised the government’s National Agricultural Growth Scheme – Agro-pocket, launched by President Bola Tinubu, for providing training in Good Agricultural Practices and subsidized farming inputs. These efforts, she said, are critical for improving productivity and raising farmers’ incomes.
To further boost agriculture, Shield Africa also introduced the Agri-preneur of the Year Awards, offering ₦2 million each to young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector. This initiative aims to empower youth to scale up their production and contribute to national food security.
Orokpo stressed that agriculture is key to achieving the goal of zero hunger in Nigeria.