Dr. Samson Odedina, Commissioner for Agriculture in Ogun State on Tuesday commended the management of Achievers University, Owo for prioritizing agricultural development.
Odedina gave the commendation in Owo, Ondo State while delivering the 2023 annual university lecture titled “Agricultural Development And Food Security in the 21st Century Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects”.
He commended the University for joining the dialogue on the focus on agriculture and taking a bold step to be part of agricultural development in this era, especially by commissioning Green Houses for intensive production and for laying the foundation of farm houses and other Infrastructure for training in Agriculture.
“The university is supposed to be the centre of excellence. When we have problems, we look up to the University. The University is where we host a lot of intelligence. Our quest to develop agriculture and to engage young people productively should not evade the University”.
“That is why we are happy that Achievers University being a private University is taking the lead in agricultural development and value chain development,” he said.
Odedina further commended the management of the University on its plan to establish a centre for the development of agriculture.
“We heard that the University is establishing a centre for development of agriculture. They are also going into farming; they want to start. It is good to start by talking to people”.
According to the Commissioner, in actualising its dreams, the University is going to be working with a lot of stakeholders to make agriculture attractive to young people starting from within.
“This Lecture is talking about the challenges of agricultural development; how we can solve it, how we can cope with the present challenges posed by hunger, unemployment and producing raw materials for industry”, he further submitted.
He concluded by saying: “The University is on the right path to start a dialogue in agriculture and I’m sure with what we are seeing here with the environment and the staff,they will excel in taking the lead in agricultural development”.
Earlier, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Omolola Irinoye said the lecture was organised as part of the series of actions to further research and innovations, capacity building and food security .
“We propose to collaborate with government and Non-governmental organisations through, linkages, collaborations and partnership that will benefit the rural farmers”.
Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Hon Dr Bode Ayorinde said the problem of unemployment in the country informed the decision of the proprietors of the University to introduce the youths early to Agricultural Economy
“Our mission is to introduce them to what can be profitable beyond the white collar jobs. The Community also will benefit immensely, because whatever we produce here which will be more hygienic will first be for our community”.
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