By- Aruna Rashed Toma Bangura
The management of the Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) in collaboration with Scaling Up Nutrition SUN secretariat are at advance of preparations to host this year’s nutrition fair and trade exhibition in Moyamba, southern Sierra Leone starting from Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th March.
Hosted with the Theme: “Eat Nutritious Food for Healthy Living” or “Eat Gud Fud for You Well Bodi Wan”, as in the lingua franca Krio, the 4th nutrition and trade fair is expected to graced and officially opened by President Julius Maada Bio as the Grand Chief Patron, will also attract the World Bank, African Development Bank, the United Nations Country Team, the Irish Aid and host of other development partners.
The public private partners’ engagement is geared towards showcasing made in Sierra Leone agricultural products with added values to development partners in the country and beyond.
Speaking during a news conference hosted last Saturday 4th March, at SLeCAD headquarters, Bathurst in Freetown, the Executive Secretary, Ahmed Akim Nanoh disclosed that SLeCAD will be hosting the 4th nutrition fair and exhibition in collaboration with SUN secretariat at the Office of the Vice President.
Nanoh said the theme for the 4th fair and exhibition which is: “Eat Nutritious Food for a Healthy Living”, is aimed at showcasing available food items and raw materials in Sierra Leone.
He disclosed that alongside President Bio will be Hon Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh among other government stakeholders, adding that the event is also an opportunity to connect to Sierra Leone to the external markets, as the fair and exhibition is all about to sell and showcase Sierra Leonean products. Informed that the event will also attract the whole diplomatic community who are key sponsors of the fair and exhibition.
The SLeCAD Executive Secretary expressed profound delight in working with SUN secretariat to reduce malnutrition.
A recent data from UN’s World Food Programme 2.2 million Sierra Leoneans are in chronic hunger and 1.6 million in acute hunger, disclosed SLeCAD ES Nanoh.