Globally, attention is being drawn to not only food for the hungry people of the world but how to ensure that they eat right. This has promoted efforts to focus on the nutritional aspect of care for the poor. Issues of nutrition and food security which affects every part of Nigeria, have compelled stakeholders to take a holistic legislative approach to work towards mitigating these challenges in the quickest possible time. This has led to a retreat by the House of Representatives, which was held in Owerri, the Imo state. It was organized by the House Committee on Nutrition and food security. The Hon. Chike Okafor-led Committee has its mandate, Appropriation, Legislation and oversight on key federal entities like Nutrition Core Working Committee under the office of the Vice-President, the National School Feeding Programme, MDAs like Ministries of Agriculture, Budget & Economic Planning, Health and Social Welfare, Women Affairs, Humanitarian Affairs, Water Resources, Environment, and Agencies like NIRSAL, etc.
By virtue of the Programme implementation agreement between Development Partners and Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the committee resolved that the programme donor and development organisations, UN Agencies, Civil Society Groups/NGOs and other stakeholders are properly monitored for optimum outcome and value for money. The programme had in attendance the 36 Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Bagudu, representatives from office of the Vice President, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Food and Agricultural Organization. (FAO), World Bank, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations International Children Emergency
Fund (UNICEF), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Nutrition International, Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Market Traders Association (MATAN), Members of the Committee, Clerk, consultants among others.
The retreat provided a platform for members of the committee to have a shared understanding of the challenges that will confront them in the course of this legislative journey. The three-day retreat had presentations, interactive sessions and group work, with a blend of expert-led presentations, group work, panel discussions, interactive workshops, field work and feedback sessions.