Synergos Nigeria, a global non-profit organisation, on Friday inaugurated a consultative committee, with 25 members from five states, to enhance federal and state policy alignment to move agriculture forward in Nigeria.
Mrs Vivienne Bamgboye, a Senior Manager of Synergos, inaugurated the committee at a stakeholders meeting organised by Synergos in Abuja.
Bamgboye said that the committee was set up by Synergos to provide opportunities of learning — in the field and from key stakeholders — the benefits of mutual exchange and reinforcement in implementing government policies.
“It will strengthen public sector leadership and participatory strategies to reinforce programme delivery in priority Agricultural Development (AGDEV) areas.
“It will provide a forum for evaluating the effectiveness of public service delivery for farming communities, while reviewing organisational and policy inefficiencies that hinder development outcomes.
“It will also strengthen the leadership decision-making capacity though the use of evidence and information,’’ she said.
Bamgboye said that the committee would, in Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, Oyo and Benue states, identify evolving priorities of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and state Ministries of Agriculture in AGDEV schemes in need of alignment.
“It will hold periodic meetings and engagements with captains of industry, high-profile Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), private sector organisations, regulators and other key stakeholders for learning and reviewing policy gaps and inefficiencies.
“It will also facilitate the translation of recommendations and action plans into progress for the states and FMARD,’’ she said.
Earlier, the Country Director of Synergos, Mr Adewale Ajadi, said that the committee would be a platform for effective alignment between the federal and state governments to work together to move agriculture forward in the country.
He said that it also represented an avenue for states to understand and reflect on the priorities of the Federal Government regarding institutional investments.
“It will be a chance for the Federal Government to ensure that its role to coordinate and engage is firmly accepted by the states.
“Overall, we are jointly responsible to shift this economy from mono-economy to a diversified economy that thrives for all.
“It is one more way to let Nigeria realise its potential as a global power in the agricultural sector, especially in the provision of food and prosperity for our people,’’ he said.
Mr Atilola Adewale, Permanent Secretary, Oyo state Ministry of Agriculture, said that the platform was a window for all stakeholders from the states to share knowledge and key into everything the Federal Government was doing.
“We will even have an opportunity to learn from what other states are doing and it will serve as problem solving centre to solve each state’s problems; all in efforts to move agriculture forward.
“The committee will also bridge a lot of gaps in the agricultural value chain and make inputs in the Federal Government’s Green Alternative Programme to flow well in the states,’’ he said. (NAN)
