The Central University of Technology joined the world to commemorate Africa month in a hybrid symposium held at the CUT Welkom Campus under the theme: ‘Strengthening resilience in nutrition and food security on the African continent’.  This year’s theme is in line with Agenda 2063, which underlines the importance of nutrition for the ‘Africa We Want’.

Distinguished guests and experts from academia and business reflected on the importance of food security, the woes of Covid-19, availability of food and the ability to access it, ethical challenges associated with food safety and security, as well as the challenges faced in the agricultural value chain.

In her deliberations, one of the guest speakers, Ms Tiny Lenyehelo, farmer and Managing Director: Mohodung Corner and TT Eggs, mentioned that many Africans are still facing challenges related to poverty, drought, conflict, and environmental degradation due to overgrazing, deforestation, and other types of environmental damages.

She took us through the history of hunger in some parts of Africa, which dates back to 1968 and continues to rise. “Africa eats what it does not grow while growing what it does not eat”, she said, highlighting the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which continues to aggravate the food accessibility and availability.  Miss Lenyehelo added that conflict and the economic woes triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of progress. “In Africa, 282 million people were experiencing hunger, more than double the proportion of any other region in the world. She added that “there is an urgent need to reduce dependency on external aid”.

She challenged the CUT researchers to rise to the occasion, collaborate with other stakeholders, and develop scientific research studies that will impact societies and solve these challenges. “We cannot afford to remain nonparticipant observers around the question of Africa Food Security. Together, let us be the change that we want to see in our beautiful home and continent. The time is now, let us UNITE and RISE as one in providing sustainable solutions. Africa is you. Africa is us.”

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Prof. Oupa Makola, Director of the Welkom Campus and one of the guest speakers at the Africa Day symposium held in Welkom, Ms Tiny Lenyehelo, farmer and Managing Director: Mohodung Corner and TT Eggs.