Vice President Kashim Shettima has identified agricultural revolution as the only bold step Nigeria can take to put an end to insecurity and reduce poverty among its growing population.
This, he said, can be achieved through the deployment of technology to actualise food security among the country’s growing population, noting that it is where the university comes to extract the maximum benefits from the right synergy that is consistent with its own peculiarities.
Sen. Shettima who stated this yesterday in Ilorin during the 13th Convocation Lecture of Al-Hikmah University underscored the role of education and training of the country’s population to take full advantage of what he described as the growing influence of technology in all aspect of human existence.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nwocha, delivering the Convocation Lecture, the VP noted that it is only when Nigeria as a nation begins to think boldly about revolutionising production, processing and guaranteeing sustained food security that it can identify sectors of the nation’s agricultural assets that are most likely to benefit from the application of technology.
Sen. Shettima said Nigeria’s future can be secured by agricultural revolution through imaginative and bold leadership, a secure and peaceful environment, and a sound education system that does not reduce the limit of the citizens to only the sky.
“The final issue involves the choices Nigerians have to make regarding our future. We can overcome insecurity if we can grow our economy to radically reduce our poverty levels. Only an agricultural revolution can guarantee this.
“We can reduce our dependence on the rest of the world when we can employ all who seek employment. We can improve our levels of political cohesion when we reduce stresses around diminishing resources and rely more on what we all have in abundance.
“Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a very healthy vision of our future as a nation, even when I am advised that we have huge challenges. I see a country that can survive its current limitations. History is replete with countries that almost gave up, but are among the strongest today. I believe our future lies in an imaginative and bold leadership, a secure and peaceful environment, and an education system that teaches us that only the sky is not our limit,” Senator Shettima said.
Noting that Nigeria has no justification not to be among the ten richest countries in the world, VP Shettima emphasized the value of realistic stocktaking of the nation’s assets and liabilities.
The vice president who had earlier commissioned the newly-constructed Faculty of Nursing Complex of Al-Hikmah University named after him, thanked the management of the school, saying he was profoundly moved by the gesture and would cherish this honour as the most humbling act of generosity.
In addition to inaugurating the Senator Kashim Shettima Nursing Science Complex, the vice president also officially opened the University’s Faculty of Law Moot Court Complex at the Atere Campus of the University.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Noah Yusuf noted that food insecurity has become a big problem in Nigeria as most citizens are struggling with how to find food for their daily living.
