Due to the dwindling state of agricultural productivity in Nigeria, a professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Ibadan on Thursday delivered a lecture on how agricultural productivity can be a progression in the Nigerian economic development.
Professor Victor Olusegun Okoruwa, a Professor of Agriculture at the University of Ibadan, delivered the 44th inaugural lecture of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry which was also the 6th inaugural lecture of the Department of Agricultural Economics on the topic; ‘HOW SHALL OUR BARNS BE FILLED? : AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AS A CATALYST FOR NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT’ at Trenchard hall, University of Ibadan, Oyo state, on the 22nd of June, 2017.
Professor Okoruwa recalled that modernized agriculture was introduced by the British Empire serving as a precursor to the industrial revolution which provided a capital source for human. He further added that up till 1970, agricultural exports were the source of Nigeria’s foreign exchange values.
The Professor of Agriculture further stated that the principles of agricultural economy, one of which is ‘a country’s standard of living depends on the goods and services it can provide, adding that productivity is a call upon which all the similar terms are built.
Professor Okoruwa who decried the state of the country’s agricultural sector observed that the nation’s neglect of agriculture as a means of revenue generation is indirectly responsible for the country’s dwindling economy. He said “Although Nigeria is known as the largest producer of many agricultural products in Africa and in the world, Nigeria’s agricultural economy is in a state of declination.”
Professor Okoruwa made it clear that one of the problems of agricultural produce is low fertilization. He noted that fertilizer products are still largely unused in Nigeria as poor farmers do not have access to fertilizers.
While highlighting the benefits of agriculture to the nation’s economy, the Professor expressed hope that Nigerians will come to the realization that agriculture is the core of the nation’s economic recovery.
In light of this, he gave recommendations with regards to the missing limbs of the whole agricultural productivity in developing Nigeria’s economy.
The Professor proposed that government should incentivize the farmers as well as provide storage facilities and institutes to make food available. He also suggested that there should be improvement in the farming system and irrigation skills in institutions.
Speaking to CEOAfrica at the end of the lecture, Eromosele, Professor Okoruwa’s son said, “My dad is a very passionate and an innovative man. I admire him because of that. He is an Academician who does whatever he is set to do well and aspires to be the best in whatever he does.”
Mrs. Fayoyin Adegbemisola, a former classmate of Professor Okoruwa, who also spoke to CEOAfrica, said “Professor Okoruwa was an S.U during those days; we call him Samanja because he always wears a tanned look. He is very intelligent and brilliant. He introduced some of us to Christ and we are grateful for that.”
After all this has been said, it still remains the duty of the stakeholders to put these words into action so that we would not remain in the same position. We cannot expect change without acting.
