Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, Prof. Ademola Tayo, has advised university communities in the country to embraced agriculture and feed its students.
Tayo said that universities should ensure that they becomes self-sustainable such that they would be able to produce food needs of its students and the university community.
Speaking at the maiden edition of World Food Day celebration of the institute, in partnership with Mushroom Development Foundation, tagged: “Challenges in Sustainable Agriculture: Empowerment and Post-harvest Losses in Nigeria”, Tayo said that with the increased world population, it became very important as an organization to embrace agriculture for the benefit of their immediate environment.
According to him, the world population was continuously rising and creating overwhelming apprehension in the minds of world leaders on the possibility of sustaining the food demands pressure imposed by the population explosion.
He said: “This pressure necessitates concerned world leaders to adopt deliberate approaches to strengthen every effort towards sustainable food production and distribution to meet the current world population crisis. Our world’s population is daily rising, creating overwhelming apprehension in the minds of world leaders on the possibility of sustaining the food demands pressure imposed by the population explosion. Concerned world leaders have adopted deliberate approaches to strengthen every effort towards sustainable food production and distribution to meet the current world population crisis”.
The Vice Chancellor added that there had been efforts by various organizations and individuals towards achieving sustainable food production in the country, adding that the university was doing the same thing.
“There has also been a concerted effort by different organizations and individuals towards sustainable food production in our country. Babcock University as a private institution is doing no less in this direction. Currently, we have acquired over 300 hectares of land in various locations within and outside Ogun State where we have intensified efforts in cropping and livestock production.
“We are not yet there; however, as we remain focused we would get there soon. In spite of all these laudable efforts, the spate of hunger and poverty is quite significant across the nation,” he said.
On the University Agropreneurship Centre, Tayo said that it would be a platform that would develop programmes and skill acquisition in all the activities and processes involved along the agriculture value chain, adding that many people would be empowered in various agricultural ventures.
“We are set to commence our first training and skills-acquisition programme. Therefore, we would appreciate your kind support and generous gifts towards this project.”
The university also used the event as a platform to honour outstanding individuals who have put in sterling contributions to the Nigerian economy through agric entrepreneurship with distinguishing awards.
Managing Director, Spectra Industry Ltd., Mr. Durodola Kuteyi, who was given award, commended the organisers of the event and said that they would support the students of the university to produce more food.
President, Animal Care Services Konsult, Mr. Olatunde Agbato, another awardee, said the vision of his company was to change the trends in livestock growth and support the university to achieve its target.
He said the diversification of the economy was absolutely necessary for the growth of the Nigerian economy, adding that livestock was the hub for animal consumption in the country.
Those honoured included the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State, Otunba Femi Oke; Managing Director, Kings Farm Nigeria Ltd., Dr. Habib Stephen; Chairman, Honeywell Group, Oba Ayo Otudeko and Chairman, Premier Lotto Limited, Chief Kessington Adebutu.
Photo: Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh.
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