Dr. Lordbanjou Calls for Active Youth Participation in Agriculture to Drive Nigeria Economy

… As FUNAAB Matriculates 5,080 Students

By Emeka Oluka & Olaoye Oyewole

Dr. Deola-Tayo Lordbanjou, a Director in the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Service at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), has charged Nigerian youths to actively participate in agriculture because of its potential to drive the economy and create job opportunities.

Dr. Lordbanjou gave this charge when he delivered a compelling message to Nigerian youths today, November 20, 2024, during the 2024/2025 Academic Session Matriculation Ceremony and the 12th Commencement Lecture of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

The Lecture, titled “Agriculture as a Pathway to Sustainable Development, Food Security, and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria: Empowering Youth for a Brighter Future,” underscored the crucial importance of youth engagement in agriculture and the potentials that abound in it.

The 12th Commencement Lecturer, who is also a proud alumnus of the University, highlighted the existing low levels of youth involvement in agriculture, attributing it to the prevailing misconception that agriculture was labour-intensive, outdated, and unappealing. He noted that many young Nigerians are drawn to careers in urban sectors like banking, telecommunications, and technology while overlooking opportunities within the agricultural field.

The trend is further exacerbated by the limited emphasis placed on agricultural sciences in educational institutions, with a greater focus on disciplines such as Business, Engineering, and Medical Sciences, he stressed.

Dr. Lordbanjou noted the necessity for youths to explore modern innovations in agriculture, such as precision farming, which present promising career prospects. He emphasised that the active participation of young Nigerians was essential for the advancement and modernisation of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, particularly in the face of challenges like population growth, climate change, and evolving global markets for agricultural products.

As a support to academic excellence in FUNAAB, Dr. Lordbanjou pledged to recognise and reward the top-performing students in agriculture across 100 to 500 Levels during each Convocation Ceremony, even as he donated 15 solar-powered street lights to the University.

In his Address to the newly matriculated students, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde urged them to follow Dr. Lordbanjou’s example and prioritise both academic and practical skills in agriculture-related fields.

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The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the significance of constructive student unionism and the adherence to University rules and regulations, cautioning against engaging in anti-social behaviours. He shared statistics regarding the newly admitted students across various Colleges, adding that a total of 5,080 were admitted.

Giving a breakdown of the admitted students, Prof. Kehinde revealed that the College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development (COLAMRUD) admitted 453 students; the College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM) 704; the College of Biosciences (COLBIOS) 450 and the College of Engineering (COLENG) 449.

He further stated that the College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM) admitted 610; College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC) 480; College of Physical Sciences (COLPHYS) 1,002;
College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT) 627; College of Veterinary Medicine (COLVET) 66 and the College of Entrepreneurial and Development Studies (COLENDS) 239 students.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of FUNAAB-made products and an award plaque to Dr. Lordbanjou. The event was witnessed by the JAMB State Coordinator, Alhaji Abdulhammed Hakeem, who represented the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, among others.