As the world marks World Food Day, agriculturist Mr. Mark Osifeko has applauded Senator Tokunbo Abiru for what he described as a “sustainable approach” to tackling hunger and food insecurity in Lagos East Senatorial District, benefiting over 72,000 households with food packs and supporting 8,000 farmers with agricultural inputs and incentives.
Reacting to the Senator’s landmark efforts, Osifeko commended the senator’s consistent investment in agriculture and youth development, saying, “God bless Senator Abiru for his consistency in supporting current farmers and encouraging new ones.”
He praised Abiru’s legislative and grassroots initiatives, highlighting that the senator “takes a sustainable approach” to policy and governance. “The bills he sponsors on the floor are the ones that are usually meant to address deep-rooted problems, and he ensures such problems are addressed frontally,” Osifeko stated.
Citing Abiru’s youth-based digital initiative, the SAIL Innovation Lab, the agriculturist recalled his initial skepticism. “I was watching to see how far it will go because we have seen so many good political initiatives that start like that but end abruptly because of lack of political will,” he said. “But SAIL has now produced and empowered thousands of youths in different fields of ICT.”
He also noted that Senator Abiru’s agricultural intervention began long before fuel subsidy removal. “He gave out maize planters and some other items to farmers. I thought it was just a one-off thing just to register his interest in agriculture, but he has proven to be someone who is strategic and sustainable with his interventions.”
Describing the synergy between food relief and agricultural empowerment as a masterstroke, Osifeko declared: “His approach of blending Agricultural inputs intervention with his trademarked food pack distribution is a superb combination that is capable of fighting hunger, food inflation, creating jobs and creating wealth for the people on the long run.”
He criticized other tiers of government for neglecting agricultural investments after the removal of fuel subsidies: “In just two years of subsidy removal, how many state or local governments are still running food palliative? If they had deployed more energy and resources into providing food palliatives and actual production through input supplies, trainings, etc., we would be reaping the benefits of that investment even if the food palliatives dry up.”
With over a decade of experience in agriculture, Osifeko insisted that Nigeria has no excuse for food insecurity: “Nigeria doesn’t have any business with food insecurity. It is one of our lowest hanging fruits. We have good soil, climate, technical know-how and manpower needed to fight hunger and even fuel industrialization through Agriculture.”
Urging governments to adopt a more sustainable approach, he added in Yoruba, “O ba ni, koiti baje” (It is not yet too late.)
“We can’t continue to spoon-feed our people for long without teaching them how to farm and fish,” he warned.
Osifeko concluded with a call to action for other leaders: “I want to specially appreciate Senator Tokunbo Abiru for his creative approach to fighting hunger and food security by not only providing food but teaching our people how to fish and farm. I urge governments at the state and local level to learn from him.”
