Edo leverages tech, agric investments to drive post-pandemic recovery

Ukrainian war exposed inadequacies of global food system, says gov

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, at the weekend, said the state was sustaining investment in large-scale agricultural production, leveraging technology and the innovative potential of its youthful population to ensure food security and drive the state’s post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan.

According to Special Adviser, Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, the governor disclosed this when he joined other world leaders and policymakers at the 2022 Doha Forum in Qatar to speak on innovations to solve large-scale economic shocks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and other critical challenges facing the world economy.

The governor was among panelists at the 20th edition of the Doha Forum with the theme, ‘Transforming for A New Era.’ Other panelists were Kandia Kamissoko Camara, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cote d’Ivoire; Charles Murito, Director, Sub Saharan Africa, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google; Wale Adeosun, Chief Investment Officer, Kuramo Capital Management, and Ken Njoroge, Founder, Cellulant.

Obaseki, who noted that the main effect of COVID-19 in Edo State was the disruption of livelihoods and small businesses, disclosed that the war in Ukraine had further exposed the inadequacies of the global food system.

He said: “For us in Edo State, we didn’t suffer much from the infections or mortality rate of the COVID-19 because of the very young population we have in Nigeria and Edo State. The infection wasn’t so high and the mortality wasn’t as bad as we get from malaria or other diseases.

“What really affected us was the disruption of livelihoods and with the lockdowns, a lot of small businesses were seriously affected, but the availability of technology as a response sprung up new opportunities for small businesses in particular.

“In terms of our healthcare response, we realised the opportunities for investment in the healthcare space and the participation of the private sector in healthcare delivery. Before now, the bulk of healthcare investment was left to government, even though the private sector is a key provider of healthcare services.”

On food security, the governor said the Ukrainian war has created a real alarm for food systems. He observed that with the increase in food prices, particularly, wheat, staples and grains, and the rise in energy prices, the Edo government realised it had to put in a lot of resources and time in agriculture, and large-scale agricultural projects.

“Fortunately, in Edo State, we have started investment in palm oil and have rolled out programmes where we could bring in serious investment into large scale oil palm production as the trigger for large scale investment in agriculture.

“So, the opportunities that we see in the next three years is to first secure our food supplies by food production and then utilise technology and focus on smaller businesses,” Obaseki added.

Earlier, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said Qatar looks forward to exploring ways to partner with Africa and discuss business opportunities that can empower the continent.

By Guardian Nigeria

https://guardian.ng/news/edo-leverages-tech-agric-investments-to-drive-post-pandemic-recovery/