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Farm to Feed: Soludo’s Solution to Hunger at a time of Anger
By Christian ABURIME
We do not live to eat, but we need to eat to live. Thus, food security is a fundamental aspect of societal well-being, encompassing the availability, access, and utilisation of nutritious food for everyone. Also, it is not just about preventing hunger; it is about fostering dignity, justice, and prosperity within communities that make up a state and a nation.
As the celebrity Spanish and American chef, restaurateur, and humanitarian José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, also aptly stated, “Food is national security. Food is the economy. It is employment, energy, and history. Food is everything”. This highlights the multifaceted role that food plays in shaping our societies and economies.
Naturally, therefore, addressing food insecurity is a moral imperative in any society. The need for immediate action to alleviate hunger and ensure that every individual has access to sufficient food is sacrosanct. Yet, it calls for the wisdom of collective action as echoed in the words of Irish singer-songwriter and activist Bono, who stated, “If you want to eliminate hunger, everybody has to be involved”.
The foregoing proposition, advocating that solutions to hunger and economic hardship require the collaboration of all sectors of society, from government and businesses to individuals and communities, is why the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has lately launched “Farm to Feed Campaign”. Coming at a time of nationwide hunger protests against economic hardship sweeping across Nigeria, Governor Soludo’s initiative offers a promising path forward, underscoring the power of agriculture as a sustainable solution to hunger, both in the short and long term.
While many regions in Nigeria have seen citizens take to the streets in protest against food inflation and economic challenges, Anambra State is taking a different approach. Governor Soludo’s campaign is a call to reasonable action, urging Ndi Anambra to be part of the solution rather than merely lamenting the problem. This proactive stance embodies the resilient spirit of the Igbo people at large and offers valuable lessons for the rest of the country.
The “Farm to Feed Campaign”, if faithfully embraced by Anambra people and others, promises several immediate benefits. By encouraging citizens to utilise every available piece of land for farming, the initiative aims to increase food supply within months, potentially easing the pressure on food prices. The campaign will also foster a sense of shared responsibility and community spirit, with local government chairmen, churches, and other stakeholders actively involved in promoting farming.
As more people engage in micro-farming, be it in their domestic backyards or other available spaces in rural and urban centres, it creates opportunities for additional income generation, helping to alleviate economic hardship at the individual level. This is not to talk of skill development through which the initiative provides an opportunity for citizens to acquire or enhance farming skills, which can be valuable long-term assets.
Beyond short-term gains, Governor Soludo’s “Farm to Feed Campaign” is also laying the groundwork for lasting change. By promoting widespread engagement in agriculture, Anambra State is working towards long-term food security, reducing dependence on imports and buffering against future food inflation crises.
Economic diversification is another long-term benefit. The focus on agriculture can contribute to diversifying the state’s economy, creating a more resilient economic structure less vulnerable to shocks in any single sector. Besides, Governor Soludo’s call to make farming and agriculture “the new national pride” could spark a cultural transformation, elevating the status of agriculture in society as a trendy occupation like ICT, acting and others.
There is also the advantage of environmental sustainability with the initiative, which includes the distribution of palm and coconut seedlings being done by the Soludo administration long before now. The “Farm to Feed Campaign” has a great potential for promoting sustainable agricultural practices that can have long-term positive environmental impacts. By encouraging youth participation in agriculture, the campaign goes further to address unemployment issues while ensuring the continuity of farming knowledge and practices.
So, as Nigeria contends with severe economic challenges and food inflation, Governor Soludo has swung into action with a practical solution. The “Farm to Feed Campaign” offers a bright ray of hope and pragmatism. If embraced by all, it can transform the current crisis into an opportunity for growth, self-reliance, and nation building, turning Nigeria’s vast arable lands into a source of abundance rather than scarcity. Governor Soludo’s words ring true: “Let us get to work, every citizen, one at a time…be the change you desire.” This way, Nigeria may well find its path to food security and economic stability, one farm at a time.
Aburime is the Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo
News
NiMet DG Anosike urges service providers to move beyond institutional compliance to measurable impacts on citizens
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has called on public institutions to move beyond regulatory compliance and certifications to delivering measurable results that create lasting value for citizens.
The DG/CEO of NiMet, who was represented by the Director, Engineering and Technical Services, Engr. Hamid Olayinka Abdulkareem, made the call during his keynote address at the 3rd National Quality Improvement Summit and Awards, organised by the Quality Improvement Institute of Nigeria (QIIN) in Abuja on Thursday 12 November 2026. Speaking on the theme, “Quality: Powering Performance – Moving Beyond Compliance to Measurable Results,” Professor Anosike emphasised that institutional credibility must be earned through consistent service delivery, accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.
Highlighting NiMet’s commitment to international quality standards, the DG/CEO disclosed that the Agency secured ISO 9001:2015 certification for aeronautical meteorological services at Yola, Osubi and Owerri airports in July 2026, alongside the successful recertification of five other airports, bringing its total number of QMS-certified airport stations to eight. He stressed that quality assurance in meteorological services is critical to aviation safety, agricultural productivity, disaster preparedness and national economic development.
Professor Anosike further highlighted the integration of the Balanced Scorecard Performance Management System into NiMet’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan as a significant step towards strengthening institutional accountability. He explained that the framework connects strategic objectives with measurable performance indicators, ensuring that organisational success is assessed not merely by activities undertaken but by results achieved and value delivered.
He urged institutions to invest in people, technology and stakeholder partnerships while embedding quality management into their organisational culture. According to him, sustainable institutional excellence requires leadership commitment, continuous evaluation and a deliberate shift from procedural compliance to measurable public impact.
News
Joint Aviation Unions Appoint Keyamo Grand Patron of Renewed Hope Support Group, Present ITF Position Paper Ahead of ICAO Conference
The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, today received a high-powered delegation of aviation labour unions under the Joint Aviation Trade Union Forum (JATUF), led by its Chairman, Comrade Ben Nnabue, in Abuja.
The delegation comprised top executives of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and other aviation unions, including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP). The unions are affiliates of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
Other members of the delegation included Comrade John Ogbe, Vice Chairman; Comrade Alale Adedayo, Vice Chairman; Group Captain Bunmi Gandeh, Vice Chairman; and Comrade Hector Nnadi, Secretary of the Forum.
The visit was primarily to formally present the position paper of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to the Minister, seeking Nigeria’s support for a motion advocating the integration of social sustainability, decent work and meaningful workers’ engagement into the global civil aviation framework at the forthcoming Seventh Worldwide Air Transport Conference (ATConf7) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), scheduled to hold in Montreal, Canada, from November 16 to 20, 2026.
According to Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser to the Hon. Minister on Media and Communications, the proposed motion, which has received Nigeria’s nod, underscores the need for the international aviation community to recognise that the sustainability and long-term success of civil aviation go beyond infrastructure development, technological advancement and economic growth to include the welfare, rights and professional development of the workforce that sustains the industry.
The unions stressed that the future of international civil aviation must be built on a framework that balances economic competitiveness with social responsibility, recognising aviation workers as indispensable stakeholders in the growth, safety and efficiency of the industry.
The Minister’s reception of the position paper further demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to constructive engagement with organised labour and the promotion of policies that strengthen the aviation sector while protecting the interests of its workforce.
In a related development, the delegation also formally presented the Minister with an invitation to serve as Grand Patron of the Renewed Hope Aviation Support Group (RHASG), under the umbrella of the Strategic Collaboration for the Re-Election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
The nomination, made on behalf of the Board of Trustees, National Executive Council and entire membership of the organisation, recognises the Minister’s leadership, professional competence and capacity for strategic coordination.
The group congratulated Keyamo on his recent appointment as Director of the Directorate of Air Transport Mobilisation for the All Progressives Congress (APC) re-election campaign, describing the appointment as a testament to the confidence reposed in his leadership abilities, organisational experience and commitment to effective mobilisation.
According to the group, the Minister’s wealth of experience in managing complex responsibilities, coupled with his strategic understanding of the aviation industry, makes him well-positioned to provide political leadership, guidance and direction to the organisation.
The appointment as Grand Patron is intended to strengthen the group’s strategic direction and consolidate support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his anticipated re-election bid.
The development marks another demonstration of the growing intersection between organised aviation labour, industry stakeholders and broader national development objectives, with the Minister continuing to engage stakeholders on issues that affect the growth, sustainability and future of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The Kano State governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has appointed a former Kano State Chief of Staff, Gwani Alhaji Shehu Wada Sagagi, as Director-General of his 2027 governorship campaign.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, spokesperson to the NDC governorship candidate.
According to the statement, Gwarzo also named Alhaji Adamu Ali Ibrahim Kibiya as Secretary of the Campaign Directorate and Engr. Sunusi Usman Dambatta as Deputy Director-General.
Sagagi, a former Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry and ex-chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kano State, is expected to lead the campaign’s activities ahead of the 2027 election.
The appointments take immediate effect, while the full membership of the campaign council will be announced later.
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