OYO State Bags GAIN Award for Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems Leadership.

The Oyo State Government has received the Award for Advancing Sustainable Food Systems under the Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNiPS) Project, implemented by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

 The award recognizes the efforts of participating states—Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Oyo in promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture and improving food systems.

The award was formally received on behalf of the Oyo State Government by the  Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, at the Close-out Ceremony of the SNiPS Project, held at the Exclusive Serene Hotel, Reuben Okoya Crescent, off Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Wuye, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Oyo State delegation, led by Barrister Olaleye, included the  Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Professor Musbau Babatunde, and the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr. Kola Badmus, among others.

Speaking at the ceremony, Barrister Olaleye described the award as a recognition of Oyo State’s steadfast commitment to strengthening food and nutrition security, enhancing agricultural value chains, and promoting sustainable food systems.

He noted that the SNiPS Project has played a critical role in improving the nutritional quality of priority staple foods and reinforcing food safety and processing standards within the state.

The  Commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the Oyo State Government to consolidating the gains recorded under the SNiPS Project through policies and programmes that support farmers, agro-processors, and nutrition-sensitive agricultural initiatives.

He expressed appreciation to the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and other development partners for their support and collaboration, emphasizing the importance of sustained partnerships in advancing food security, reducing malnutrition, and driving inclusive rural development in Oyo State and the other participating states: Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna.

The Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNiPS) Project aims to improve the nutritional value of staple foods, strengthen food systems, and reduce malnutrition through coordinated, multi-stakeholder interventions at national and sub-national levels.