Olakunle Johnson, president of the Steering Committee, Motivating Action Towards Achieving Nutrition (MATAN) Food Bank Foundation, has called on government and other partners to intensify collaboration to attain food security.

Mr Johnson, the visioner of the project implementation steering committee of VAT Direct Initiative (VDI), made this call in a letter written to solicit support for the group’s vision, on Saturday in Lagos.

MATAN Food Bank is a duly incorporated body with the Nigerian Copyright Commission.

Expressing the foundation’s unwavering resolve and determination, Mr Johnson said that as citizens of an endowed and prosperous nation, the community desired quality and affordable means of livelihood.

He called on all stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to lift up Nigeria from inadequacy, insufficiency and insecurity of food.

According to him, one does not need to become a local government chairman, councillor, president, governor, minister or parliamentarian before contributing quota to the society.

The letter read in part: “Our stand is resolute and encompassing and poised towards a new rebirth of agricultural revolution which is a catalyst for food security.”

He applauded efforts of President Bola Tinubu; the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu; Vice President Kashim Shettima as well as ministers of finance and agriculture, Wale Edun, and Abubakar Kyari, respectively, for their unwavering commitment to food security.

According to him, the 36 state governors, the minister for FCT Abuja and all the traditional institutions are pivotal to the geometric progression of the initiative.

“The government support for our numerous programmes as entailed in our prosperous initiatives is inevitable.

“The government through its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are poised to leverage our platform for the chains of distribution of incentives, benefits and palliative accrued to the farmers, less privileged, motherless, widows and others.

“Amongst our visions is to support the poorest members of the Society,” the letter added.

According to him, the federal government is expected to support the special invitation of the various international agencies to grace the launching of farmers’ stakeholder engagement forum of the initiative.

He said that the event scheduled to hold in Abuja would be graced by representatives from the World Trade Organisation (WTO), African Development Bank (AfDB), Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Health Organisation (WHO), among others.

He said that the initiative had also concluded arrangements for the inauguration of the central working committee and Project Managers for state chapters and local government areas.

“Together, we will create a world where every individual has access to nutritious food, clean water, quality education, and economic opportunities.”

He highlighted the need for collaboration of partners such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for disaster relief and food distribution as well as the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development for support on agricultural-based food security programmes.

Mr Johnson also highlighted the need for state and local governments’ collaboration on grassroots food distribution as well as support from international and multinational organisations.

He listed the international multinational organisations to include World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and FAO as worthy partners.

He also highlighted the need for partnership from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as Action Against Hunger, Oxfam, and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

For corporate sponsors (CSR Initiatives), Mr Johnson highlighted the needed support from Dangote Foundation, MTN Foundation, Nestlé Nigeria, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) and Shoprite Nigeria.

Mr Johnson also highlighted partnership from faith-based organisations such as Christian Aid, Islamic Relief, Caritas Nigeria among others.

He also highlighted partnerships from local community-based organisations (CBOs) such as Farmers’ Associations, Market Women Associations.

He said foundations such as Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Ford Foundation and others could join in the nutrition and hunger alleviation projects.

“I call upon each and every one of you to join me in this collective resolution. 

“We will stand strong in the face of adversity. We will lift our voices for justice and equality. We will empower our communities through education and economic opportunities.

“My fellow MATAN community members, I urge you to join me on this transformative journey. Let us rise above our challenges and create a beacon of hope for ourselves and for future generations.

“Together, we can make a difference. Together, we will achieve a brighter future,” he said. 

(NAN)