The Director General and Chief executive officer of the Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency, Dr Halilu Ahmad Shaba has stressed the need for adaptive measures in combating climate change and ensure food security in the country.
He made the remark in Akure while delivering a lecture at the 2023 Ulefunta Festival organized by the paramount ruler and Deji of Akure land Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi.
In his lecture entitled ‘Climate Change And Food Security In Nigeria: The Role Of Rural Communities in Global Mitigation and Adaptation Measures’, the NASRDA boss noted that various human activities as well as industrialization have continued to increase greenhouse emissions which are major contributor to climate change globally.
He added that increased greenhouse effect has led to global warming with its resultant effect on agricultural activities and its impact on food production, saying climate change induced alterations such as flooding, soil acidity, rising temperatures, increased aridity and several others have adversely impacted on the Nigerian food systems.
Dr Shaba who pointed that most crises are characterized by struggle for resources which are becoming scarce also revealed that agricultural activities such deforestation, livestock production, use of synthetic fertilizers by farmers as well other harmful activities contribute in no little way to climate change effect on our environment.
He therefore called for rural communities to engage in agricultural practices that are sustainable and bring about benefits for their communities on the long run.
According to him, rural communities play an important role in the efforts towards climate change mitigation, and the role is highly significant as most rural dwellers are highly dependent on natural resources for their livelihood.
Dr Shaba stressed the need for relationship between the rural communities, policy makers and the academia so as to look at the peculiarities of various communities so that measures suitable to the needs of the people can be adopted.
He said NASRDA is readily available with data and necessary information for the community as well as the university for decision making.
In his opening remarks the chairman of the occasion Dr John Oyedepo who is the Deputy Director Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta stressed the need for farmers to take advantage of technology in finding solution to climate change.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the steering committee Ulefunta 2023 festival Dr Olu Adekunle Ajanaku called on all citizens to join hands in for the overall development of the community.
The Deji of Akure commemorated this year’s festival with the presentation of service to humanity awards to honourees as well as prizes to winners of this year’s essay competition
In another development, the NASRDA boss also visited the headquarters of Ondo State Radiovision Corporation, Akure where he was accorded a red carpet reception by the chairman, management and staff of the frontline broadcasting organization and later participated in a Television personality programme to showcase the strategic roles and contributions of the Space Agency towards national development.
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