TETFund Center of Excellence for Food Security

The nature and extent of hunger and food insecurity in Nigeria are of public health concern. The recent trend in hunger and food security in Nigeria reveals the prevalence of undernourished as a proportion of the total population rose steadily from 6.0% to 7.0% between 2007 and 2016. However, the proportion of the undernourished rural population almost doubled over a span of ten years, from 6.0% in 2007 to 11.5% in 2016 (Amaza, 2019). This measures the percentage of the population that is unable to meet the minimum calorie requirements of 2,250 kcal per day.

Nigeria ranked 38th out of 76 countries on the 2014 Global Hunger Index (IFPRI, 2014). Another report indicated that the absolute number of food-insecure people in Nigeria was 17 million in 2012 with projected rise to 43 million by 2022 if the situation is not addressed. Lack of food is the most critical dimension of poverty and is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators. Thus, the issue of food security is very topical, and therefore the TetFund Centre of Excellency in Food Security is quite desirable

The TetFund Centre of Excellency in Food Security shall focus on applied research for development (R4D) with emphasis to develop and disseminate research outputs for adoption by private sector (e.g., industries) and end-users (households). The adoption of the research outputs will in turn contribute to enhance food security and improved livelihoods in North-Central States, and other parts of Nigeria. Given the significance of food security, both nationally and internationally, the activities of the Centre are expected to attract support and funding from national and international sources.

The R4D activities of the Centre shall be interdisciplinary in nature, involving several disciplines given the fact that food security issues are cross-cutting in nature. The R4D activities will focus on addressing the diverse challenges that affect food security, including low crops and livestock productivity, poor access to agricultural markets, low value addition to agricultural produce, land degradation, climate change, pests and diseases, policies, etc. Thus, R4D should focus on the development and promotion of technologies and policies that not only enhance food production and access to safe and nutritious food but also maintain ecological stability and preserve the natural resource base of communities.

Prof. Paul S. Amaza

Director

OBJECTIVES OF THE TCoEFS

The Centre of will undertake applied research in the following areas:

a) To investigate the socioeconomic factors affecting households’ food security

b) To enhance the productivity of crops and livestock

c) To improved farmers’ access to agricultural markets

d) To examine policy and institutional factors that affect households’ food security

e) To mitigate the effects of climate change affecting crop and livestock productivity

f) To enhance value addition to primary agricultural produce

g) To examine the effects and impacts of climate change on food security and mitigation measures

Vision Statement:

To be a Centre of Excellence for training and applied research that enhance households’ food security and improved livelihoods in Nigeria and Africa.

Mission Statement:

Our applied research in Food security is to enhance access by all people to safe and nutritious food needed to maintain a healthy and active life and are not at risk of losing such access.

The Centre Director, Secretary, Evaluation and Monitoring Officer with all facilitators

Training Report 2024

Dr Ezekiel (Convener) addressing participants

Training Report 2024

Dr. Osibanjo at his lecture

Training Report 2024

Facilitator delivering his lecture

Training Report 2024

Handmixing of Feeds

1-Livestock Agribusiness for Increased Income and Food Security Training

2-Minutes of the unijos tetfund centre of excellence and food security capacity building workshop on “potato seed and ware production

3-Capacity building workshop on “potato seed and ware production”

Training of post-graduate students on research methodolgy and data management

APPROACH TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CENTRE

The approach the Centre will take to achieve the identified research for development objectives includes the following:

a) Postgraduate training in Agribusiness and agriculture related enterprises to enhance employment opportunities in agriculture

b) Undertake applied research on target crop and livestock value chains, including value addition using participatory approaches involving stakeholders (farmers, processors, marketers, end users, policy makers, etc.).

c) Disseminate research outputs for adoption by private sector and public stakeholders (e.g., industries from commercialization; farmers/farmers groups for adoption and utilization and to government for policy formulation and)

d) Build the capacity of farmers groups/farmers on relevant Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and technologies for adoption by the primary producers.

e) Undertake policy workshops, Policy Dialogues and prepare Policy briefs for awareness creation among relevant Policy Makers on the outcomes of applied research that requires policy formulation, policy action and policy implementation.

IDENTIFIED NATIONAL DEVLOPMENT PLANS

The TCoEFS will contribute to addressing the following identified national development challenges:

a) High unemployment and growing inequalities

b) Low agricultural productivity

c) Rising poverty

d) Rising food insecurity

e) Low value addition (processing) to primary agricultural produce

f) High transaction costs (largely due to poor infrastructures, especially roads, electricity, etc.)

g) Poor enabling environment for business

h) Low household incomes

i) Rising inflation

j) Lack of good governance

k) Insecurity

l) Pervasive Corruption

m) Non-diversification of the economy

n) High population growth rate

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