As part of efforts to ensure security in the country, the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security chaired by Rep. Chike John Okafor is set to meet with major stakeholders in the sector.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph. will grace the session, which is held on Thursday at the National Assembly.
The committee was constituted in late November 2023, with Rep. Okafor being given the mandate to chair it.
The committee’s jurisdiction covers issues of strengthening and safeguarding nutrition and food security in Nigeria, including strengthening the legislative framework for nutrition governance in Nigeria; advancing legislation and reforms to resolve specific issues of nutrition and food security; mainstream nutrition and food security perspectives in legislative work; advocate for the inclusion of nutrition and food security in the government priority programmes and interface with National and International agencies on nutrition and food security issues.
Other areas will be to advocate for the creation of a nutrition budget line for nutrition in relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government; raise awareness on issues related to food security and nutrition; provide oversight of international commitments and policies adopted by government-related to food security & nutrition, and monitor resource allocation to food security and nutrition in the annual budget
The session, which will be part of the committee’s inaugural meeting, is expected to draw stakeholders with interest in the food security and nutrition sector.
International partners such as the World Bank Group, UNICEF, Dangote Foundation, Helen Keller International, and Region International, among others, are expected to attend the session.