The Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has partnered with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and traditional leaders to promote peace building and enhance climate smart agriculture aimed at boosting economic growth.
Speaking at a one-day ‘National Dialogue on Promoting Peace Building and Climate Smart Agriculture as Catalysts for Economic Growth and Food Security in Nigeria,’ which held in Abuja on Wednesday, Salamatu Garba, WOFAN founder and a United Nations peace ambassador, said the partnership seeks to create enhanced food security, national economy and an enabling environment for businesses.
“We are looking at cross-cutting issues and using the climate resource limitation that we have to see how addressing that can promote peace, increase food security, and then boost our national economy.”
She stressed that proper language is needed to safeguard lives and put agriculture in its proper place.
“We are looking at the use of language, and advocating that rather than call pastoralists and the livestock farmers herdsmen, we should call them livestock farmers or poultry farmers.”
She said if the public wants the media to do realistic justice, they must cater to their welfare.
“I am yet to hear of insurance packages for media people.”
“Our partners, the Mastercard Foundation are spearheading the WOFAN ICON 2 project, which is a five-year partnership program, targeting 675,000 farmers with a vision to add 10 million jobs in Africa in the next five years, and 1 million in Nigeria.”
In his remarks, Tijjani Muhammad Bande, president of the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and former vice chancellor of Uthman Dan fodio University, Sokoto, lauded the initiative of the national dialogue, stressing the need to address food and nutrition security together so as to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 2 of ending hunger by 2030.
Also, Joseph Legend, deputy president, United Nations Positive Livelihood Award Centre (UN-POLAC), said focus group discussions and cordial relationships can help proffer solution to several problems in many occasions.
In his remarks, Luka Ayedoo Nizassan, Etsu Kwali and chairman, Kwali Traditional Council, commended WOFAN’s executive director for her efforts in championing initiatives that benefit Nigerians.
The traditional ruler emphasised the relationship between food security, economic growth, agricultural productivity, and peace.
He said, “If one of these sectors is underperforming, it affects the entire system. That is why this gathering is so crucial and timely. Agriculture in Nigeria contributed 25.75 percent to employment in 2024 and significantly impacted our GDP. However, employment opportunities in agriculture are declining, and its contribution to GDP has stagnated due to conflicts, climate change, and other pressing challenges. We must take actionable steps to address these issues.”
He noted that they are at the forefront of every conflict and directly experience the consequences of food insecurity. “When people are hungry, they come to our palaces first, even before going to political offices. Hunger and economic hardship affect us all. That is why we must be part of this cause,” he added.
Also speaking, Isa Radda of the Department of Sociology, Bayero University, Kano, said the event was about the relationship between climate and agriculture, noting that there is a need for farmers to adopt smart practices without harming the environment.
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