Stakeholders at the 29th edition of the annual LAPO Development Forum yesterday sought policy support to guarantee food security in the country.

The event with the theme ‘Financing Agriculture and Rural Development Initiatives in Nigeria: Issues and Way Forward’, was organised by the Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, said that the forum is in line with Diversification drive of the present administration effort which seeks to develop particularly the none health sector.

Adebayo, who was represented by the Director, Commodit Export Department in the Federal Ministry, Suleiman Adebayo Audu, said that agricultural sector is critical for every nation because it ensures sustainable food security and importation and encourages efforts for foreign exchange.

He said: “Stakeholders along the value chain of different agricultural commodities are coming to terms with the reality that aggressive financing and investment in the sector is critical in order to advance our quest for Small and medium scale businesses so as not to face continued difficulties in accessing loans.”

In his remarks, the Founder/CEO, LAPO Group, Godwin Ehigiamusoe, noted that the organization has been very active in supporting the development of the rural economy with focus on micro and small scale agricultural enterprises across the country.

He said: “Financial institutions in the Lapo ecosystem have over the years made significant contributions to rural agricultural financing and development in Nigeria with substantial impact. The Lapo rural development initiative dispersed N75.4 Billion to 183,538 clients who are predominantly rural farmers within a span of 8 years.

“In the past few years, the organization has been implementing the Lapo community campaign for cancer control project, a community based intervention to support efforts of the government in addressing the cancer scourge”.

LAPO is a non-governmental and not-for-profit development organisation that is committed to the social, health and economic empowerment of the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria.
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