Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

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Mr. OBONGHA OGUNI

Member since
Organization: Africa Environment plus Rights Action Alliance
Country: Nigeria
Field(s) of expertise:
I am working on:
I am currently engaged by FAO Nigeria United Kingdom (UK) Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transition (UKPACT), as a Training Facilitator in "Integrated Management of Mangrove Ecosystem and Expansion of Social Protection for Fisheries and Forest dependent in the Coastal Communities of Cross River State Project. Activity carried out: Step-down training in Mangrove Communities on climate smart agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture. Status: on-going. Leveraging on my expertise, a local initiative, Development Concern (DEVCON) is engaging me as a Project Implementation Officer (PIO) on FAO SFW "Global Transition of Forest for People and Climate: A focus on West Africa" in "Enhancing Iko Esai Community Forest Management Strategy" in Cross River State, Nigeria. Status: concluding phase. Providing Consultancy with a local initiative, Biakwan Light Green Initiative (BLGI) for Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF)/NABU "Community Forest Management and Livelihood Improvement in the Buffer Region of Cross River National Park in Nigeria" Project. Role: Facilitated and developed Community Land Use Plan (CLUP) for 8 Support Zone Communities (SZCs) that formed the Western Boundary of the Cross River National Park. Status: concluding phase.

This member contributed to:

    • Do you agree with the guiding principles indicated above?

      • Agreed. Though, on item 1 of the Guiding Principles, I thought it should read “…the rights to food, food sovereignty, and the rights of nature….”

      Should the objectives include mainstreaming Indigenous Peoples food and knowledge systems, and lessons learned from them, for the benefit of all, or solely for the benefit of Indigenous Peoples as rights holders?

      • The objectives should be for the benefits of all. IPs around the world have diverse food and knowledge systems and traditional practices sequel to their geography and ecology. The food and knowledge systems, and lesson learned share with other communities will strengthen adaptation and resilience building. 

      What are the challenges related to Free, Prior and Informed Consent and Access and Benefit Sharing when widely promoting and/or mainstreaming Indigenous Peoples food and knowledge systems?

      • The most challenge worth highlighting is the refusal by many countries to ratify the ILO Convention 169. For example, Nigeria, who also in 2007, opposed the draft UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), describing it as “unacceptable”.  In the same track, a one time Head of Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee at Nigeria's Permanent Mission to the UN, Amb. Chijioke Wigwe,  opined that there were 371 tribes indigenous to Nigeria and noted that the absence of a definition of the term "indigenous peoples" in the text raised legal, social and political issues that would make implementation of the Declaration "problematic‘’.
      • With Nigeria’s position, the principle of FPIC that we know is critical to the development of IPs, and respecting their substantive rights under ILO convention No 169  is not adhered to, therefore posing a gray area requiring a way out when widely promoting and/or mainstreaming IPs food and knowledge  systems, perhaps in Nigeria, and other geographies. 
      • Secondly, non mainstreaming of gender equality and equity in ABS and traditional knowledge governance is another challenge worth highlighting. Because inequalities between men and women violates women’s rights.

      How can the report ensure the inclusion of marginalized groups, sustainability, and protection against commercialization risks for Indigenous Peoples' food and knowledge systems?

      • Inclusion of the marginalized can be ensured through local organizing, from where information can be elicited for the report. This could engender sustainability of IPFK, and the protection against commercialization risk can be safeguarded by ensuring the handling of food and knowledge systems from different geographies as a unique entity and assigned an intellectual property rights.

      How should oral knowledge and traditions be documented and referenced in the development of the report?

      • This could be achieved through the employment of virtual media, and made available on YouTube channel, where links are referenced on the report

      What dimensions linked to Indigenous Peoples’ agency, e.g., in governance issues, could be addressed?

      • Ratification of IPs related International Conventions by Countries not done yet. 

      Are there important/relevant policy papers and instruments missing from the foundational documents list?

      Could you please indicate relevant references that should be taken into account?

      • This report examines the implementation of the Convention No. 169 and the current social and economic situation of indigenous people across the world. 

      https://www.ilo.org/publications/implementing-ilo-indigenous-and-tribal-peoples-convention-no-169-towards

      What best practices, ethical standards, and strategies for addressing climate change should be highlighted in the report?

      Which best practices or strategies to promote cross-cultural understanding should be highlighted in the report?

      • Learning exchange with IPs taking the lead, multi-stakeholders dialogue, community dialogue.

      Are the previous legal documents such as Prior and Informed Consent, enough in light of this evolution of thinking about Indigenous People’s knowledge, or do they need to be revised?

      • For me Prior Informed Consent is enough because it ensures development of IPs.