The Nordic ambassadors from Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway on Wednesday pressured the significance of sustainable meals manufacturing and worldwide cooperation in addressing Nigeria’s meals safety challenges.
That is as they lamented that regardless of Nigeria’s huge land, many individuals lack entry to nutritious meals and that Nigeria imports most of its meals making it susceptible to international shock.
They spoke on the Nordic meals feast organised by hosted by the brand new Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Sanna Selin, in Abuja.
The Danish Ambassador Jens Hansen underscored the urgent want to extend meals manufacturing to satisfy the calls for of Nigeria’s rising inhabitants.
Hansen referred to as for modern options and collaboration between Nordic international locations and Nigeria, saying a strategic partnership aimed toward enhancing the nation’s meals and livestock sectors.
He cited profitable initiatives, such because the Danish-Swedish dairy cooperative’s funding in Kaduna, which goals to bolster small holder dairy farmers by coaching and cooperative help.
The ambassador famous, “Our planet is already struggling. Due to this fact, we have to discover new methods to sustainably improve meals manufacturing and on the identical time steadiness the way it impacts the atmosphere.
“To deal with that problem, we’d like cooperation between the Nordic international locations and African international locations. We have to trade information. We’d like know-how, and we’d like modern options.
“I’m glad that the governments of Denmark and Nigeria have agreed to determine a strategic sector cooperation between Nigeria’s meals sector and livestock sector with a purpose to help the free consumption of the Nigerian meals and livestock system.”
Finnish Ambassador Selin highlighted the Nordic international locations’ dedication to environmental sustainability and animal welfare.
She famous the area’s low use of antibiotics in farming and showcased improvements reminiscent of plant-based meat options, which supply sustainable protein sources.
“In Nordic international locations, environmental points and animal welfare are our main focus areas. The amount of antibiotics administrated to the cattle is among the many lowest in Europe.
“Among the many many different issues, Nordic international locations collaborate by investing in shared analysis and innovation tasks that target growing sustainable meals options in shut cooperation with our industries.
“I hope that very quickly we are going to see extra Finnish merchandise coming to the Nigerian market,” the ambassador famous.
Swedish Ambassador, Annika Hahn-Englund spoke concerning the historic ties between the Nordics and Africa, emphasising the importance of Nigeria as a key accomplice.
She mirrored on a latest go to by Nordic international ministers to Nigeria, aimed toward strengthening collaboration on international points like inexperienced transitions and meals safety.
Hahn-Englund identified that regardless of Nigeria’s fertile land, many voters lack entry to nutritious meals, urging investments in climate-smart agriculture and infrastructure.
“Regardless of Nigeria’s huge land, many individuals lack entry to nutritious meals. Nigeria imports most of its meals making it susceptible to international shock.
“Nordic corporations spend money on climate-smart agriculture, sustainable vitality, infrastructure and rural connectivity, resulting in a marketplace for prosperity. We additionally help meals safety in emergencies.
“The Nordic international locations’ engagement for peaceable societies, human dignity, democratic improvement and inclusive development will be seen clearly right here in Nigeria,” she stated.
Norwegian Ambassador, Svein Baera strengthened the Nordic imaginative and prescient of changing into essentially the most sustainable area globally, advocating for gender equality and constructive dialogue amongst nations as very important for improvement and prosperity.
He famous that equal participation of ladies and men in all areas contributes considerably to the wealth of Nordic international locations.
“The Nordic imaginative and prescient is to be essentially the most sustainable and built-in area on this planet,” Baera acknowledged.
In August 2024, the delegation of prime officers from Nordic international locations, together with the Minister for International Affairs of Sweden, Tobias Billström; the Minister for International Affairs of Iceland, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, the State Secretary for Worldwide Growth of Norway, Bjørg Sandkjær, and the Underneath Secretary for International Coverage, Denmark, Ms Eva Marie Frida Barløse, made a historic go to to Nigeria.
Throughout their talks with the Federal authorities, they mentioned key areas of mutual curiosity, together with safety, financial cooperation, schooling, commerce and funding, and the rule of legislation.