Agricultural Organization (FAO), an arm of the United Nations (UN), in
recognition of Federal Government’s efforts at hunger and chronic poverty
reduction.
Receiving the award
at the Presidential Villa, Jonathan re-affirmed government’s commitment towards
achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The FAO believes
that government has been able to cut by half, between 1990 and 2015, the
proportion of people living on less than $1.25 a day.
The development,
according to the Rome-based FAO, has led to the attainment of provision of
decent employment for women, men, and young people as well as reducing by half,
etween 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.
Accomplishment of
these feats was what qualified Nigeria for recognition by the Rome based
ancillary of the UN.
But Jonathan
acknowledged that the country still has a long way to go to achieve more of the
MDG goals including achieving universal primaryeducation, promoting gender
equality and empowering, reducing childmortality rates, improving maternal
health, combating HIV/AIDS scourge, malaria and other diseases, among others.
“We are yet to
reach where we want to go but surely we will get there,” Jonathan said, adding
that, “let me use this unique opportunity to tell Nigerians and the rest of the
world that we appreciate this recognition.” Minister of Agriculture, Dr.
Akinwunmi Adesina, who presented the awarad on behalf of the FAO, noted that
the administration has done well in curbing hunger in the country.
According to him,
“Mr. President, you are feeding Nigeria and the international community
recognizes your efforts and leadership in feeding Nigeria.
“The FAO of the UN
has just given a special recognition to Nigeria for the achievement in reducing
the number of people suffering from chronic hunger and for making notable
progress in guarantee food security for our citizens.
“Nigeria got the
award because the number of Nigerians suffering from hunger reduced from 19.31
million in 1990 and 1992 to 13.38 in 2010 to 2012.”
Moreover, according
to him, there has been a decline in the prevalence of under-nourishment in the
country from 19.3 per cent in 1990/1991 to 8.5 per cent by 2010/2012.
“This is below the MDG
target of 9.7 per cent that was set for 2015,” he said.
The FAO also
identified Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cuba, Djibouti, Georgia, Ghana, Guyana, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome
and Principe, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and VietNam, as other countries
that have achieved both MDG 1 and the World Food Summit (WFS) goal.
