In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Press Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA: Osinbajo, Others Speak at the Companion’s Fourth National Discourse
Tuesday 18, June 2019 | 15 Shawwal 1440AH
Lagos, Nigeria
All is now set for an epochal colloquium on food security in Nigeria as an association of Muslim professionals, The Companion convenes its 4th National Discourse where the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo will deliver a keynote speech in Lagos next month.
The theme of the discourse scheduled to be chaired by the immediate past governor of the State of Osun, Engr. Rauf Aregbesola at the J F Ade-Ajayi Main Auditorium of the University of Lagos is Food Security: Unleashing Nigeria’s Natural Potentials for Self-Sufficiency. Expectedly Professor Osinbajo will in his speech be explaining government policy direction on comprehensive reform in the agriculture and agro-allied sector of the economy when the event holds on Sunday, July 14.
With a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo and President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Professor Fola Lasisi slated as the guest speaker, the discourse would be a gathering of agricultural policy experts and stakeholders offering options and proffering solutions to the food crisis in the country.
In addition, two eminent names in the agriculture sector, Professor of Food Science and Technology, Professor Lateef Sanni and the Lagos state Chapter Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Otunba Femi Oke will be adding invaluable insights on the all-important theme as discussants.
Participants at the ground-breaking nationally strategic event are expected from varied fields covering the academia, executive and legislative branches of government, finance and industry as subject matter experts, policy advisers, technocrats, senior public officials, investors and agricultural machinery fabricators, large and medium scale farmers, fertilizer manufacturers and agricultural inputs distributors as well as representatives of international development agencies and the diplomatic corps.
The discourse organiser, The Companion, is, therefore, leaving no stone untouched to successfully host the epochal and strategic discourse as it expands its network for collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the nation’s polity, one of which is the Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC Nigeria.
A letter from The Companion leadership to the MPAC Executive Chairman, Kamor Disu conveying the selection of the Muslim public service agency as a strategic partner, explained that it was “on account of our common interest as faith-based organizations in the actualization all-round human development”.
The letter dated June 13 and signed by the Companion National Amir, Alh. Thabit Wale Sonaike and the Lagos District Amir, Abdul-Ghani Abdul-Majeed added that such synergy was with a view to influencing government policy formulation, implementation as well as to stimulate public interest in the actualization of best practices leading to favourable results.
The letter acknowledges MPAC pedigree as an organization committed to Muslim public affairs advocacy, with the leaders expressing hope that MPAC/Companion partnership would add value to the discourse.
The Companion is optimistic that such initiatives would lead to freedom from all forms of insecurity-social, political, economic and health which are capable of preventing man from realising his purpose of existence.
Already, representatives of both organisations have held a collaborative stakeholder meeting to draw plans for achieving the aims of the programme in ensuring it gets impressive attendance and popular participation through extensive media coverage.
In his remark, the MPAC Executive Chairman stated that MPAC views the invitation for partnership with the greatest pleasure, and looks forward to mobilising its unique media assets to achieve all-round success with the organisation as this initiative and other works that The Companion does align with our outlook for the nation.
Abdulwarees Solanke
Director, Media & Strategic Communications,
Muslim Public Affairs Center, Nigeria