Eat Nigeria Rice Campaign launched in Abuja

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, the European Union, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has launched the ‘Eat Nigeria Rice Campaign’ to commemorate the World Food Day celebrations in Abuja. The ‘Eat Nigeria Rice Campaign’ is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für […]

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, the European Union, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has launched the ‘Eat Nigeria Rice Campaign’ to commemorate the World Food Day celebrations in Abuja.

The ‘Eat Nigeria Rice Campaign’ is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The Nigerian rice industry has enormous economic potential for the ECOWAS region, and the country is commonly linked to Jollof rice on a global scale.

The campaign seeks to change the way consumers think about rice and to boost the local rice industry to increase food security and enhance the nation’s economic resilience.

The National Chairman, Competitive African Rice Forum for Sustainable Development, Mr. Peter Dama, who spoke during the event, said it was necessary that Nigerians eat what they produce.

“We are advocating that Nigerians should consume and eat Nigerian rice. What you call local rice, produced in Nigeria.

“Not foreign rice, not rice that is brought in from outside. So that people who have been consuming the rice, the Nigerian rice, would be healthy, they would create jobs, enable us to have national food security in this country,” he said.

Every year, on October 16, World Food Day is celebrated to raise awareness of hunger, encourage action for those who are affected, and emphasise the importance of ensuring a good diet for everyone.