The Permanent Representative of the United Nations and World Trade Organisation, Ambassador Matthew Wilson, said innovation is an essential answer to food security challenges being faced by third world countries.
He disclosed this on Friday at the Divasity’s unveiling of its new CEO, Thokozile Nkechi James, and the launch of the Divasity-WTO Funding and Market Readiness Programme, an event that had an audience of industry leaders, stakeholders, and esteemed guests.
In his keynote speech, Wilson stated: “The future is youth. The future is innovation. The future is Divasity. The future is the South-South cooperation, and the future is small businesses.”
While highlighting the significance of the Divasity-WTO Funding and Market Readiness Programme, Wilson said, “This project was submitted to the 2023 ICC, ITC, WTO, MSME, group small business champions. And when it was reviewed, the project caught the review team’s immediate attention with its energy and its ambition, which now that I have met the full team reflects the energy and the ambition that you have.”
Wilson further emphasized the importance of supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship, particularly in the agribusiness sector.
“Food security, as you know, especially in developing countries, is a real and urgent problem. We’ve seen the challenges from supply chain disruptions, coming from the pandemic, climate change, and geopolitics. And we need to innovate with and include every actor, big or small, when it comes to food production.”
“We all know that we cannot keep doing things the same way, especially in the agribusiness field. The climate crisis demands that we operate differently. So support for entrepreneurship, support for entrepreneurs is going to be a fundamental conduit to building and scaling up solutions.
“This sector is ripe for technological innovation if the tools and the understanding are there and this is what the Divasity project is providing,” he noted.
According to a statement on Saturday by the co-founder of Divasity, Chigozie Ubanagu, other dignitaries also shared inspiring accounts of agricultural development initiatives and pivotal global insights from their wealth of knowledge and expertise.
“The launch of the Divasity-WTO Funding and Market Readiness Programme heralded a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering small-scale farmers across Nigeria.
“With a focus on inclusivity, accessibility and sustainability, the program promises to revolutionize the agricultural sector, driving positive change and economic empowerment for all,” the statement added.
While speaking after the event, Divasity founder, Adeola Adebayo, expressed his gratitude and pride in the success of the evening.
“Tonight was more than just a celebration; it was a testament to the power of entrepreneurship and the limitless potential of those who dare to dream.
“With Thokozile Nkechi at the helm and our new program poised to make waves, the future has never looked brighter for Divasity,” he submitted.