The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has called on critical stakeholders and Agriculturists to be in the vanguard of championing the course of massive food production for food sufficiency, and for export to the world markets.
The Governor, Dr. Alex Otti represented by the Secretary to Abia State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu who made the call during the forty-seventh annual conference and general meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology with the theme:” Nigerian Food for the Global market” held at the International conference center Umuahia, described the theme of the programme as very apt,
Dr. Otti stressed on the need for more deliberate and sincere efforts by Government at all levels to invest in Agriculture in order to achieve food sufficiency and to ensure that Nigeria begins to earn foreign exchange from the export of agricultural products.
He lauded the organizers of the programme for choosing Abia adding that the present Administration is committed to improving the agricultural sector of the state.
In his keynote address, a former Governor of Anambra state and the Labour Party Presidential candidate, during the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, said that Nigeria is endowed with numerous Agribusiness potentials which if properly harnessed will not only boost quality food production that will decimate poverty but will generate investment and employment opportunities.
In his Address the president, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology Prof Joseph Abu, said NIFST is the largest body of food professionals that will continue to contribute to the provision of skilled manpower for the production of prepackaged, and globally competitive processed foods in Nigeria for export.
Also speaking the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Maduebisi Iwe, who welcomed all to the event, regretted that Nigerian foods are not valued at the international market.
Stakeholders in the Agricultural sector, Government officials among others were present during the event.
