‘30 die in Nigeria daily due to hunger, illness’

Success Nwogu, Ilorin
 
The Vice-Chancellor, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Prof.
Aize Obayan, has said that more than 30 people die daily due to
hunger and illness in Nigeria, especially at the internally displaced
persons’ camp in Bama, Borno State.

According to her, such a recent report of the international medical
humanitarian organization, Doctors Without Borders, (Medecins Sana
Frontiers) on the devastating effect of hunger and malnutrition in
IDP camp in Bama, Borno State, was humiliating.

She spoke on Friday at Omu-Aran, Kwara State during a media briefing to commemorate the 62nd birthday anniversary of the university’s chancellor, Bishop David Oyedepo.
She described Oyedepo as a blessing to humanity.
According to her, the David Oyedepo Foundation has supported lives in over 40 nations, especially in the field of education and life
development.

Obayan said Nigeria could take the lead in feeding Africa considering
its population of about 180m and its land areas of 98.3m hectares
out of which 74m hectares were said to be good for farming, but had
yet to be explored maximally.

She said, “This calls for more than a sober reflection, but also quick and meaningful action of salvaging the situation, which we dare to spearhead as a university committed to driving food availability, food affordability and food security.

“Nigeria’s famous agricultural profile has declined steeply, making the giant of Africa to slide from being a self sufficient country in food to being a worrisome importer of agricultural produce. This trend is
reversible. The unnecessary aberration could be addressed. Agriculture needs to be revamped.”