The Sensitization and Awareness Creation on Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Systems Transformation Initiative, implemented by Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, a leading agriculture and nutrition consulting firm dedicated to driving inclusive and sustainable food systems transformation across Africa, in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under the Global Programme on Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies (AgSys), in collaboration with the Enugu State Government, under the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Enugu State, organized a four-day inter-ministerial sensitization and awareness workshop for stakeholders and MDAs in Enugu State.
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The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Barr. Chris-Roberts Ozongwu, was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Clara Nwakaego Eze, who also serves as the Chairman for Food and Nutrition, Enugu State.
In her opening remarks, she commended the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for his immense support in ensuring the success of the program. She noted with pride that out of the five states in the South East, Enugu was chosen to host this program.
She recalled that not long ago, Enugu State distributed agricultural inputs worth two billion naira to its citizens. According to her, this program is aimed at sensitization and awareness creation on agriculture, food, and nutrition systems transformation.
She emphasized that Enugu State has made remarkable progress in agricultural and food systems transformation and deserved recognition for its achievements. In her words, “We do not just distribute agricultural inputs and tractors to our farmers; we have what we call Farm Estates in Enugu State today.”
Explaining further, she said, “When we talk about food systems transformation, we are referring to the entire process -from cultivation to when the food gets to the table-and that is what Enugu State is working hard to achieve. Our goal is to normalize and institutionalize this process so that it becomes part of our culture. We are committed to ensuring food security across Enugu State and beyond.”
She also added that Enugu State aims to produce enough quality food to feed its citizens and still have excess for transportation to other states and even for export. In conclusion, she expressed deep appreciation to SAHEL Consulting for organizing the program.
During the workshop, Mrs. Grace Omini, a representative of SAHEL Consulting, stated that one of the key objectives of the workshop was to enhance collaboration among agencies. She noted that when discussing food systems, the commonly used term is food security, which means that “nobody goes to bed hungry, and food should always be available, affordable, and accessible.”
She emphasized the need to identify systematic challenges, address bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and feedback loops, and avoid solving food system issues in isolation where policies compete rather than complement. According to her, it is important to understand what stakeholders are doing differently to improve outcomes, ask questions, get involved, and share knowledge with others, as well as to align policies that are decisive but not shortsighted.
Mrs. Omini reminded participants that food systems are interconnected, and “one disruption can trigger food shortages, price volatility, and increased food insecurity.” She therefore advised on the need to invest in resilient infrastructure, promote smart agriculture, and improve policy coordination and coherence. This, she said, would benefit multiple goals simultaneously when there is alignment between different sectors, helping to minimize duplication, enhance inclusivity and partnerships, and support evidence-based decision making rather than relying on intuition and tradition.
She further advised that in addressing issues, stakeholders should not ignore the root causes while only trying to fix the symptoms. Instead, goals should be set to match current performance levels, and adaptive programming should be applied to help build systems that learn as they progress and ensure that local voices are heard.
Another facilitator, Mr. Pascal Adiks from SAHEL Consulting, elaborated on steps to develop a resource mobilization plan, financial models, assessment of funding needs, and identification of priority areas for investment and financial gaps.
Throughout the training, participants engaged in group exercises, interactions, and reflections on what had been taught at the end of each day. These activities were designed to strengthen collaborative governance, foster synergy across MDAs, promote transparency, innovation, and sustainable practices, and ultimately contribute to a more inclusive and resilient food system in Nigeria.
The workshop is expected to advance food security, stimulate economic growth, enhance collaboration and coherence across different MDAs and promote environmental sustainability both within Enugu State and across the nation.
Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited is a leading management consulting firm focused on agriculture, nutrition, and climate resilience across Africa. Through research, partnerships, and innovative interventions, the firm works to strengthen food systems, empower stakeholders, and advance policies that drive sustainable agricultural transformation