Amid the ongoing nationwide protests and prevailing economic uncertainties, Pastor Wole Oladiyun, a prominent thought leader and Senior Pastor of Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM) in Omole, Lagos, has emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in addressing Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges. During a recent Sunday service in Lagos, Pastor Oladiyun urged Nigerians to unite with the government to revitalize the nation, highlighting that “it takes time to fix a system that has been down for a while.”
Pastor Wole Oladiyun’s message focused on the theme, “Revamping Food Security in Nigeria through the Local Government Model.” He proposed a comprehensive approach to revitalizing the nation’s agricultural sector through strategic collaboration between the Federal Government, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the 774 Local Government Areas across the country. This collaboration, according to him, should focus on a massive food production initiative.
“The vast agricultural potential within each local government area should be strategically leveraged for farming,” Pastor Oladiyun stated. “Agricultural assessments should be conducted across all 774 LGAs to determine the best-suited crops for each region.” Drawing on his experience as a large-scale farmer, Pastor Oladiyun detailed a plan involving a partnership between the Federal Government and AfDB, emphasizing the following key elements:
- Legal Framework: Implementing relevant laws to ensure the smooth execution of the project.
- Funding and Oversight: Establishing a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to oversee funding, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Youth Empowerment: Providing intensive training in agricultural literacy and farm machinery operation for youths.
- Security Infrastructure: Setting up robust community-based security measures in every Local Government Area.
- Institutional Collaboration: Engaging specialized agricultural institutions like the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), and National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT).
Pastor Wole Oladiyun stressed the need for intentionality, sincerity, and consistency from both national and sub-national governments in implementing the food security project. He asserted that this approach is crucial for addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges and achieving sustainable growth.
Reflecting on his earlier predictions, Pastor Oladiyun reminded Nigerians of his call for a return to farming over five years ago, citing divine insight that Nigeria’s prosperity is tied to a significant agricultural revolution. He assured citizens that positive change is forthcoming and urged them to exercise patience and understanding. “Very soon, things will pick up,” he reassured. “I appeal for more patience and a better understanding of the government. The decades-long rot in Nigeria won’t be cleared overnight.”
As the nation navigates its current challenges, Pastor Wole Oladiyun’s vision for utilizing the Local Government Model to revamp food security offers a pathway toward a more prosperous and self-sufficient Nigeria.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
