First Lady advocates peace-building as tool for food security

Nigeria`s lady and President, African First Lady Peace Mission (AFLPM) Aisha Buhari, has advocated for stakeholders to always promote peace-building among farming communities to ensure sustainable food security in the continent.

Buhari made the call in a message delivered by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs and Strategy, Mr Sani Zorro, on Wednesday during a two-day High-Level Forum on Food Security held in Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The meeting was organised by the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) to promote food security and agricultural development, especially on the role of women in food security.

The first lady emphasised the need to join forces towards addressing the devastating impact of climate change, especially as it affects women and children as well as food production.

She said a concerted effort must be made by relevant authorities to stem the conflicts between farming communities and herdsmen.

According to her, the situation threatens food production in most farming communities.

She said the government of Nigeria had invested enough resources to curtail the situation and to guarantee safety to the farming communities.

“ Efforts are being made to address the situation in most affected areas in Africa, one of the efforts comes from the humanitarian organisation.

“Efforts from my office and my foundation, the Aisha Buhari Foundation have continued to support women, youths and children who are most affected by the challenges affecting our environment.

“ I am excited by the efforts aimed at partnering with the Islamic Organisation for Food Security in our commitment to achieving food security, especially through food security and nutrition.

“ As President of AFLPM, sometime last month, I have the opportunity to address the General Assembly Summit of African Union Heads of States and Government as a reliable partner in promoting peace in the continent.

“ We are committed to using the network of Africa’s first ladies’ peace mission to influence the teachings of peace and security education in primary, secondary and territory schools in the continent, ” she said.

Buhari also informed the gathering that her foundation had partnered with the federal ministry of health to promote traditional medicinal herbs through the utilisation of genetic plants.

“ This is a segment of our agriculture which the greatest number of our local population depends on for the treatment of their ailments, food supplements and cosmetics use.

According to her, out of 10,000 species of medicinal plants in Nigeria, only 20 per cent of it is utilised.

In addition, my office has resolved to work with the Nigerian parliament to accelerate the passage of the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) Council Bill into law.

She, therefore, expressed her determination to support the course of women and children, especially women in agriculture for sustainable food security in the continent.

Nigeria’s first lady, therefore, declared her interest to champion the course of IOFS to ensure sustainable food security and nutrition for the benefit of women and children.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the core objectives of the High-Level Forum were to ensure food security and promote agriculture and rural development among member countries.