EXPERT EXPLAINS PATHWAYS TO FOOD SUFFICIENCY AS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, EJIGBO HOLDS 2018 ANNUAL LECTURE

L-R: Mr Kolawole Adeniji, Prof Labode Popoola and Prof Clement Adebooye

Innovation, good marketing strategy and timely launch have been identified as pathways to food sufficiency and sustainable wealth in Nigeria. A frontline Agriculturist and Chief Executive officer, NIJI Group, Mr. Kolawole Adeniji stated this while delivering the fourth in the series of the College of Agriculture lecture, held on Wednesday 18^th July, 2018 at Ejigbo campus of Osun State University.

In the lecture titled, "Agricultural business for Sustainable Development: Securing Sustainable Livelihood for individual", Mr. Adeniji maintained that Agriculture is everything to life, adding that no economy or people are free if they have no grown capacity to feed themselves.

Mr. Adeniji who currently works with various national and international organization Boards and committees described agriculture as a non-Substitute asset to social development. The industrialist emphasized the need for upcoming agriculturists to always embrace risks, saying every business is always accompanied with some risks which if endured would lead to success as no crown without cross. He advised participants especially students to identify their areas of comparative advantage where they could garner enough capacity to command required market attention. According to the renowned entrepreneur, “hardwork does not necessarily make one rich, but a combination of labour and right use of knowledge is what makes sustainable wealth and good success.

Earlier in an address, the Vice Chancellor, Osun State University, Professor Labode Popoola said the institution had made giant strides in the efforts at inculcating the culture of self-sustenance, hard work, independence and knowledge in the products of the institution.

Popoola, who is a professor of Forest Economics, said the University had not deviated from the vision of producing employers of labour rather than those who would be seeking non-available white collar-jobs. While emphasizing the need for students of the institution to make discipline, hard work, humility and dedication their guiding principles, Professor Popoola said the institution would not relent on its efforts at making life comfortable for all the students on the campus. He sought the continued cooperation of all members of staff and students in the efforts at realizing the visions and missions of the founding fathers of the institution.

In his remark, the Acting Provost of the College of Agriculture, Dr. Nwoke O.C, said the lecture was organized to reawaken the spirit of self-sustenance, doggedness and commitment among the students of the College of Agriculture.  Dr. Nwoke disclosed that the institution was striving to establish a standard teaching and research farm capable of integrating all aspects of agriculture to serve the training needs of students.

Dr. Nwoke gave thanks to God that the College had produced products who have continued to excel in their chosen career as employers of labour across the globe.

Describing the topic as apt, Dr. Nwoke re-emphasized the need for students of Agriculture and other related disciplines to contribute their quota to the current administration’s desire to make the nation food secured and sufficient.

The Chairman, Organizing Committee of the event Dr. Mabel Ipinmoroti said the college had excelled in the production of yam honey, catfish, garri, poultry products for sales to members of the public. Dr. Ipinmoroti advised residents of the state to avail themselves of the opportunity by coming to the campus to purchase the items at subsidized rates.

The 2018 lecture of the College of Agriculture, Osun State University, Ejigbo campus also featured goodwill messages and speeches by Provost, college of Engineering of the institution among others as well as Drama presentation and exhibition of products such as honey, dry fish, garri, palm oil and other poultry products.