The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) celebrated the 2014 World Food Day between the 13th and 16th of October with a series of activities. On October 15th, a National Agricultural Show was held in Tudun Wada, Nasarawa State to showcase agricultural products and the various endeavors of agricultural organizations and associations in furthering the development of agricultural sectors. Amongst the many organizations present were the National Veterinary Research Institute, Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research, National Cereals Research Institute, National Horticultural Research Institute, National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS).
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) alongside the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) held a joint exhibit at the event. Nigeria Strategy Support Program's (NSSP) Senior Research Assistant, Motunrayo Oyeyemi, informed attendants on IFPRI's mission to provide research-based policy solutions that sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition and NSSP's aims to: 1) enhance knowledge through information, data, and tools for the analysis, design, and implementation of pro-poor, gender-sensitive, and environmentally sustainable agricultural and rural development polices and strategies in Nigeria; 2) strengthen the capacity of government agencies, research institutions, and others to carry out and use applied research for agricultural and rural polices and strategies; and 3) improve communication between policymakers, policy analysts, and those who benefit from agricultural and rural development policy. In addition, Dr. George Mavrotas, Program Leader of NSSP, and Dr. Yemisi Kuku-Shittu, Associate Research Fellow, attended the 2014 World Food Day Symposium held in Abuja.
