Nigerian government has been urged to urgently deal with the insecurity that characterizes the farming community in order to ensure food security.
The former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar who stated this recently during Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) 10th Convocation lecture, also added that youths can be part of the transformation process for a secure and more prosperous Nigeria.
Speaking on the topic entitled, Nigeria of our dreams: Managing national security and diversification of Nigeria’s economy through Agriculture, Prof. Abubakar called on youths to wake up, use their education to creatively and critically tackle the security challenges bedeviling the country.
He maintained that there is a far-reaching implication on Nigeria’s security architecture if food insecurity is not resolved, highlighting that food insecurity can create national insecurity.
In his words: “National insecurity can depeen food insecurity as we are witnessing with the disruptive activities of the Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen.
The food scientist, also decried the weak implementation of well-articulated government plans, noting that it has endangered low performance of the economy, thereby exacerbating the country’s poor security situation.
He insisted that the agricultural sector, especially the value chain has the potential to reduce unemployment and poverty in Nigeria thereby contributing to national security.
“The state of insecurity in Nigeria can be managed with the aid of agriculture-base economic diversification in Nigeria. However, strong political will is required to develop and implement policies and strategies for economic diversification in Nigeria” he explained.
Prof. Abubakar, further called on MOUAU to lead research in the identification, mapping and depeening agricultural value chain as well as explore the triple helix model partnership to build a model agricultural food value chain for self-sufficiency and national orientation.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the 10th convocation lecture and the Pro-Chancellor/chairman of governing council, Federal University Lokoja, Senator Chris Adighije has described the topic of the lecture as apt and timely, stating that security is a precondition for economic and social development.
Adighije further stated that oil which is the base of the Nigerian economy is relevance, thus; making diversification of the economy unavoidable.
Declaring the lecture open, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) MOUAU, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe has extolled the lecturer, Prof. Abubakar, describing him as a politician par excellence cum erudite scholar.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Udo Herbert, the VC promised that MOUAU will continue to engage quality research and innovative approach towards ensuring food security in Nigeria.
