NLNG, LCCI pledge to promote food security in Nigeria

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), in partnership with Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has pledged to sustainably promote food security in Nigeria.

The group made the commitment, on Wednesday night, in Lagos, during the presentation of the joint-winning works of The Nigeria Prize for Science (2022) to industry players in an effort to push agricultural innovations that can positively impact food security in the country.

The Nigeria Prize for Science is a $100,000 award sponsored by NLNG to promote innovations in science and technology that will solve age-long problems and drive development in Nigeria.

The presentation of the winning works was made at an interactive business forum – ‘Gains in Grain Yield of Released Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars under Drought and Well-Watered Conditions’ by Dr. Muhydideen Oyekunle and Prof. Shehu Ado; and ‘Development of Process Plant for Plantain Flour’ by Prof. Sesan Peter Ayodeji and Dr. Emmanuel Olatunji Olutomilola.

‘Gains in Grain Yield of Released Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars under Drought and Well-Watered Conditions’ speak to developing hybrid, high-yielding and water stress-tolerant maize seeds. On the other hand, ‘Development of Process Plant for Plantain Flour’ is an important innovation for reducing the spoilage of farm products. It is also resourceful in scaling up from batch production to industrial-scale continuous flour production and it is relevant beyond plantain to other food items.

The guests include: General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh; LCCI President, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole; LCCI Director-General, Dr. Chinyere Almona and members of the Nigeria Prize for Science Advisory Board, Dr. Nike Akande and Prof. Yusuf Abubakar.

In his remarks, Odeh said the Prize’s focus on Food Security in 2022 was in alignment with Goal Two of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which seeks sustainable solutions to end hunger by 2030 and to achieve food security.

He said NLNG was interested in the impact the innovations would have on food security and the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians, stating further that the company was aware that it is not enough to have innovations without them impacting society.

“Being a company committed to building a better Nigeria, NLNG is seeking ways to ensure that these improvements bring about positive developmental change in its home country,” he stated.

Chairman of the Prize’s Advisory Board, Prof. Barth Nnaji, who was represented by board member, Akande, stated that the innovations had the potential for high impact.

“There are two components to it. There is one about machinery. By developing such equipment, we are making significant progress in-country. Then, there is the technique of producing a product with a multiplier effect and many benefits. This interactive workshop will raise awareness for our society to know that these two aspects are real outcomes from last year’s prize. The business community and industries are the ones that should take that outcome to society. It is also our strategic view that this event would bring to the fore investment networks and harmonisation of efforts to support agriculture in Nigeria,” he said.