A university Don and the Pioneer Director of the Agribusiness Incubation Center (ABIC), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Dr. Philips Nto, has identified investment in agribusiness and agri-food as the key to addressing the current food insecurity in the country. Dr. Nto disclosed this recently in Umuahia during the first 2025 Congress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council.
The former Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning in the state described journalists as powerful influencers and critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s development projects and disclosed that there are numerous opportunities in the agri-food chain that can provide significant value to people. He used the opportunity to educate his audience on the works done at ABIC, which prides itself as a pacesetter in Nigeria’s food security agenda and is envisioned to be a hub where trainees acquire knowledge of agribusiness and entrepreneurial skills, and most significantly, enhance the capacity of trainees for practical demonstrations of the lectures received, helping to fast-track the attainment of self-sufficiency in food and nutrition for the country and import substitution for the Nigerian economy.
The academia, who said he was asked to educate members of the Fourth Estate on investment opportunities that would improve agribusiness planning and implementation concerning the larger society, applauded the media for driving the initiative of diversifying the country’s economy from oil to agriculture. He further informed his audience that the ABIC project was established in six universities across the country as a centre of excellence to support food security and research from farm to industry, enhancing local economic opportunities for youth and women, providing employment, creating wealth, and reducing poverty.
Dr. Nto, who has also served as the Provost of Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, believed that Nigeria as a nation can tackle its food insecurity and become food-sufficient by embracing agriculture. “The time has come for everyone to become a farmer or take an interest in the agribusiness value chain. Farming may not be your primary occupation, but it could also be a secondary option. It is also time for us to embrace simple yet mechanised methods of agriculture and agribusiness, employing technology and improved seedlings,” he further advised.
Continuing, he noted that Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million people, 70 million hectares of agricultural land, favourable agricultural climatic conditions including rainy and dry seasons, and rivers and oceans across the country, should have its economy heavily dependent on agriculture instead of oil and called for a change of strategy for the misplaced priority.
Dr. Nto further revealed that the desire of President Ahmed Tinubu to reduce the country’s inflation from 40% to 15%, as contained in the 2025 budget, will remain a mirage unless the country returns to agriculture. He lamented that the government, including the media, often focuses on issues that have no direct bearing on food security, like the most beautiful girl in Nigeria, man of the year, and the best governor of the year, etc., while little attention is given to critical programs that encourage productivity in the agri-food sector, which has a direct impact on Nigeria’s food security. He therefore urged the media to lead the crusade for Nigeria to return to agriculture and agribusiness.
The ABIC Director disclosed that, as part of his contribution to ensuring food sufficiency, he has decided to institute an award for the most successful farmer in both men’s and women’s categories in his community, Ututu, in Arochukwu LGA of Abia State, to encourage farmers.
“We should become farmers. The NUJ can form cooperatives and benefit from the government’s grants to engage in food production. To progress as a nation and curb food insecurity, there must be a change of attitude from both the government and the people. Our economic future lies in agriculture and agribusiness,” he emphasised.
