NEPAD NIGERIA IS READY TO SUPPORT IFNA PROGRAMMES
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Nigeria will support all programmes designed to improve educational and living standard of Nigerians.
The National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer (NC/CEO), NEPAD Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu stated this when delegates from NEPAD South Africa and IFNA paid her a courtesy visit in her office, recently.
Princess Akobundu said that NEPAD Nigeria will ensure successful implementation of IFNA’s programmes in Nigeria, as requested by IFNA through adequate advocacy and sensitization especially at the grass root level.
The NC/CEO further stated that NEPAD Nigeria is a grass root Agency capable of involving relevant stakeholders that would carry out the IFNA programmes in the six Geo-Political Zones and 774 Local Governments in the country.
She noted that since NEPAD Continental coordinate the member States and programmes in the fifty-four Countries, that it will be to the best interest of IFNA to include NEPAD Nigeria as part of the Steering Committee of IFNA programmes in the country.
Princess Akobundu however, advocates for a meeting with relevant stakeholders such as IFNA, NEPAD Nigeria and Ministry of Planning and Budget to facilitate a successful implementation of IFNA programmes in Nigeria.
Speaking at the occasion, Ms Kefilwe Rhoba Moalosi, the Nutrition Manager, NEPAD South Africa stated that IFNA was launched in Kenya, in 2016 and presently operates in ten countries in Africa, including Nigeria.
Similarly, she said that IFNA has commenced its programmes in Delta, Jigawa and Gombe States with plans to cover other states in the Country.
Rhoba further explained that the visit is to enjoin NEPAD Nigeria to be part and parcel of the IFNA process in Nigeria and to equally seek advice from the NEPAD Nigeria NC/CEO on the way forward.
According to the Programme Coordinator, IFNA Secretariat, Mr. Fumito Morinaga, ’’to achieve better result, IFNA is ready to work with NEPAD in the sensitization programme on food and nutrition for the people of Nigeria’’.
Signed:
Atuora Obed
Assistant Director (Media)