Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has bagged the Agenda Setting Governor on Food Security for year 2018 from the Africa Agriculture Agenda (AAA), a pan-African magazine.

He was honoured for his Lake Rice initiative with Kebbi State, which contributed to food security and job creation in both states.

John Olakulehin, general manager of Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LSCDA), who represented Ambode at the event, said that the governor was delighted with the award coming from an African magazine in agriculture.

“This honour is a great encouragement to Governor Ambode in recognition for his public service. Those who have eaten Lake Rice know that it is of high standard. I will also like to thank the organizers of this award for remembering the labour of His Excellency,” he said.

Presenting the award to the governor in Lagos, Nathaniel Akhigbe, the publisher AAA, said that Ambode was considered for honour due to the achievements of Lake Rice, which were primarily job creation in Kebbi State and making rice of international standard available to Lagosians.

He said that the award was also to point to governors in Nigeria that the Lagos/Kebbi partnership model was a viable alternative in the fight against poverty, unemployment and a means of wealth creation in their respective states.

“Governors in Nigeria should be able to create wealth for their states through this kind of agriculture partnership. Those who do not have enough land can partner with states that have massive land. It mustn’t necessarily be on rice. There are other farm produce states in Nigeria can partner to produce to profit therein, economically.

“And these are in line with our vision to set the agenda for Africa’s food security and prosperity through agriculture; recognizing public officials doing well in terms of government policies and implementation, as well as inspiring young people to take interest in agriculture right from the primary school, through secondary school and up to tertiary institution, among others,” he said.

Source: Independent Newspaper

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