Food Security in Africa and the Need to Reposition Technical and Vocational Education and Training

urityENABLING POLICIES FOR AFRICAN FOOD SECURITY:
A MEANS TO ENHANCE SKILLS FOR TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Abstract
This paper discusses issues of food insecurity in Africa and the need to reposition Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for curbing food insecurity and promoting development in Africa. The paper highlights the concept of TVET and its objectives; challenges and opportunities of repositioning TVET. The paper also identifies causes of insecurity and implications to development in Nigeria; roles of TVET in curbing insecurity and promoting development. The paper emphasizes strategies for repositioning TVET in promoting development. The paper concludes that for a nation to develop and overcome the challenges posed by food insecurity, priority should be given to reposition technical and vocational education and training. Finally, appropriate measures for effective repositioning were recommended.

Key words: Food security, Technical and vocational education and training; skills development and poverty eradication.

INTRODUCTION
Food security is a fundamental health and development issue in Africa. Food plays an important social and cultural role in all African societies. Diverse factors operating at multiple levels challenge the capacity of African countries to ensure food security. At the macro level, globalization, population growth, urbanization and climate change affect availability and access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Additionally, national and regional policies on land use, agriculture, and the environment, energy, trade and health, and transport and communications systems have an impact on food prices, local food production, imported food, nutrition standards and food advertising, labeling and marketing. At the micro level, social determinants such as household income influence access to food; education and the media environment influence food awareness and the perceived acceptability and/or

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