Don says food security, supply, pathway to economic stability, growth

VC hails Sonaike's legacies in JABU

PROFESSOR of Public Health Nutrition from Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU) in Ile- Ife, Osun State, Prof. Motunrayo Olumakaiye, has stated that for any country to achieve economic stability and growth, food security and supply must be adequately enhanced.

Speaking at the maiden memorial lecture organised by Joseph Ayo Babalola University ( JABU), Ikeji- Arakeji, Osun State, for its third substantive Vice- Chancellor, the late Prof. Kola Sonaike, the don emphasised that when a country provides sufficient and nutritious food for its citizens, it leads to improved health outcomes, reduced poverty levels and enhanced productivity across various sectors.

Delivering the paper, titled: ‘ Food Security for Sustainable National Development’, the public health nutrition expert said that a country that prioritised food security is better equipped to withstand social and economic shocks, as well as the ability to demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges. She said: “Achieving food security for sustainable national development requires a collaborative approach that is multi- faceted, multisectoral, and multi- disciplinary in nature. A stable and secure food supply is a cornerstone for economic stability and growth.

“Food security holds the key to social harmony and improved public health. It is a foundation upon which communities flourish and, invariably, the nation. Y ou can make changes in y our own life – at home, at work, and in the community – by supporting local farmers or markets, making sustainable food choices, supporting good nutrition for all, and fighting food waste.” On his part, Vice- Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Olasebikan Fakolujo, stated that the late Sonaike's brief sojourn at JABU brought about a series of developments that the university had continued to thrive on. He said: “It is noteworthy to say that this is part of the Distinguished Lecture Series instituted to facilitate enlightened discourse on issues of contemporary relevance to the academic environment in particular and society at large.

“The series has grown in stature and importance over the years and provides a platform for sharing knowledge and views on a range of national developmental issues to improve the relationship between the town and gown.”