<\/p>\n
By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi,Abuja<\/p>\n
To ensure higher agricultural output and food security in the country, the federal government has charged colleges and research institutes to transit agriculture from being purely theoretical to practical and actively engaging in farming for food production.<\/p>\n
The Senior Special Assistant, SSA to the President on Food Security, Barrister Yejide Ogundipe, who gave the charge at a quately meeting of Provosts of National Committees of Agricultural Research Institutes and Related Matters in Abuja, noted that academic institutions in Nigeria possess vast tracts of unused land that could be repurposed for food production and food processing hubs.<\/p>\n
“These institutions can help curb the food crisis by involving undergraduates and youth from local communities in farming activities, while adopting modern agricultural practices and tools. This initiative will not only provide food for university residents and host communities but also cultivate a new generation of skilled agricultural practitioners,” she said.<\/p>\n
Highlighting the critical roles that research institutes and colleges of agriculture must play in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu\u2019s administration, the SSA emphasized that “the time for action is now”, adding that “food security is not merely a policy agenda\u2014it is a national imperative.”<\/p>\n
“We must leverage the knowledge and expertise within our research institutions and educational bodies to address the pressing challenges facing Nigeria\u2019s agricultural sector.<\/p>\n
“Through collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to progress, we can transform agriculture into a thriving and sustainable sector that guarantees food for every Nigerian.
\nLet us work together to turn our agricultural potential into reality,” she stressed.<\/p>\n
Ogundipe, who lamented that despite agriculture\u2019s critical role in Nigeria\u2019s economy, the country still struggles to feed itself said President Tinubu, having recognised the urgent need for action made food security a core priority under his Renewed Hope Agenda, especially through the declaration of a state of emergency on food security on July 13, 2023; renaming the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and creating the Office of the SSA on Food Security, “with a clear mandate to drive policy integration, promote sustainable food production and supply, and enhance stakeholder coordination in tackling food insecurity.”<\/p>\n
She, however, maintained that ensuring food security is not the government’s responsibility alone, but requires a multi-sectoral approach, with significant contributions from various stakeholders, particularly the academia.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, Garba Hamidu Sharubutu reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to working closely with the present administration to ensure that agricultural colleges receive the necessary resources to drive innovation and productivity in the sector.<\/p>\n
According to Sharubutu, under President Tinubu\u2019s leadership, food security has been prioritized through initiatives such as the declaration of a state of emergency on food security, the renaming of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the creation of the SSA office on Food Security.<\/p>\n
Also speaking, the President of the National Committee of Agricultural Research Institutes and Related Matters, Dr. Fadiyimu Akinyemi, said the country\u2019s Colleges of Agriculture are fighting for survival due to lack of funding and institutional support, revealing that no state or federal agency provides direct intervention for them.<\/p>\n
“Universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education receive intervention funds, but agricultural colleges get nothing. Who will explain why?\u201d he questioned.<\/p>\n
“Unlike other tertiary institutions, colleges of agriculture do not benefit from TETFund, commercial bank loans, or even private sponsorships\u2014a glaring oversight in a country grappling with food security challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cA rare opportunity for private funding arose in 2023 when an individual proposed a research center, but bureaucracy has stalled the initiative,” he stressed.<\/p>\n
Akinyemi, who is the Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, emphasized that while universities focus on theory, colleges of agriculture provide 70% practical training and are directly connected to farmers.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite their hands-on approach, they remain underfunded, unrecognized, and institutionally invisible.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven technology doesn\u2019t recognize us. Type \u2018polytechnic,\u2019 and it appears. Type \u2018monotechnic,\u2019 and it gets underlined in red,\u201d he remarked, symbolizing the sector\u2019s neglect.<\/p>\n
He observed that though the Renewed Hope Agricultural Technology Adoption Program, RATA was launched to train young Nigerians in agriculture, political influence has marred the initiative, warning that such programs must avoid political influence and instead focus on supporting serious students.<\/p>\n
The Provost proposed for direct funding of the best agricultural students to establish farms, ensuring real impact instead of wasted resources.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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