Convener of the Ògo Àkúré Mandate Group, Hon. Ayodeji DF Oluleye, has called for a coordinated national approach to achieving food security, food safety, and food sovereignty in Nigeria.
Speaking as Guest Speaker at the 2025 World Food Day Celebration organised by the Cross River State Government Liaison Office in Lagos, Oluleye, who is also the Founder of the Global Pest Management Conference and Chief Executive Officer of Dfortune Pest Solutions Ltd, delivered a keynote lecture titled “Food Security, Food Safety and Food Sovereignty in Nigeria.”
This year’s celebration, themed “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” focused on promoting sustainable food systems, inclusive agricultural growth, and environmental stewardship across all sectors.
In his address, Oluleye identified critical issues such as the abuse of pesticides, safe pesticide use, post-harvest crop protection, and the urgent need for improved storage facilities to reduce waste and enhance food preservation.
He also stressed the importance of organic farming, the banning of dangerous agrochemicals, and the adoption of innovative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen the nation’s food value chain.
The agricultural expert further called for increased investment in agro-finance at both micro and macro levels, urging the government to implement stronger policies aimed at reducing export rejections of Nigerian agricultural produce through improved safety standards and certification systems.
Oluleye commended the Governor of Cross River State and the Special Adviser to the Governor, Hon. (Mrs.) Esther Bepeh, for their visionary leadership and commitment to advancing food sustainability, youth empowerment, and community-based agricultural initiatives.
Reiterating his stance, he said true food sovereignty can only be achieved through local participation, innovation, and governance that empower farmers and protect consumers.
According to him, “No Nigerian should go hungry in a land so richly blessed.”
The event, which drew key stakeholders from the agricultural and environmental sectors, underscored the growing national discourse on the need for inclusive and sustainable food systems capable of meeting Nigeria’s developmental aspirations.