Nigeria’s agricultural sector has vast opportunities but it is limited by sundry issues of which the latest and most urgent is rising insecurity in farm lands across the country and climate change.
This was the submission of Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a frontline politician and a former presidential candidate at the 27th annual convention and the 26th annual lecture series of the Alumni Association of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State on Saturday.
Hashim said according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), between 2022 and 2024, about half a million farmers were displaced, leading to the loss of over N2 trillion.
In the Middle Belt, he said a study further revealed a drop of over 70 per cent in farming activities leading to the shortage of maize and yams, among others.
According to him, the Institute of Peace Study revealed that in 2024, over 3,500 cases of kidnapping occurred in Nigeria.
“Apart from the above urgent issues, there are other issues that have fairly been around for a while undermining agricultural productivity and prosperity in the sector. They include the following: “Poor infrastructure and market access, poor road networks hinder timely delivery of farm produce to markets.
The African Development Bank (AFDB) notes that post-harvest losses in Nigeria exceed $9 billion annually, primarily due to inadequate transportation and storage.”
On the role of the alumni to development, Hashim emphasised that alumni associations all over the world serve the same or similar purposes. This he said, includes providing a platform for networking. “They help the alumni stay connected and maintain relationship with the alma mater; supporting the alma mater: the alumni association can support the development and advancement of their alma mater.”
On their roles to national developments, he said alumni associations increasingly shape national development through funding, innovation, and strategic investments.
He, however, argued that only a minority target agriculture despite its critical economic role.
He also said Nigeria’s top alumni associations collectively represent over five million members, and 15% of alumni are engaged in agribusiness and food-related industries.
He cited examples of alumni contributions to include University of Ibadan alumni which developed a ₦1 billion mechanized farm, enhancing food security and student training; Ahmadu Bello University alumni whose agro-initiative invested ₦2 billion in a cassava processing hub in Kaduna;
while the Obafemi Awolowo University Agritech Fund disbursed ₦250 million in zero-interest loans to support 1,200 small holder farmers (Agricultural Funding Network Group (AFNG, 2024).
Other dignitaries at the event included Mr. Dapo Are, the SA to former governor Amosun; Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture who represented the State Commissioner of Agriculture;
Mr. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, a member of the House of Representatives for Yewa North, Imeko and Afon Constituency; His Royal Highness Oba Abdulrasheed Banjo, the Olokini of Ejowo, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State; Professor Ayoola Akinwole, the chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter who said the opening prayers; the global president of the Association, Mr. Bolaji Gbadamosi and Professor Tunde Kehinde, the vice chancellor of FUNAB.
Professor Kehinde in his remarks said he was honored and proud of the association especially the support given in the areas of helping the school in the areas of acquisition of many hectares of land for food cultivation and food security for the country.
He equally appreciated the kind gesture of the association in relieving poor and indigent students of the school by offsetting millions of naira for their school fees.
Nasir, who said he had been around the political environment of Ogun since 2004 also thanked everybody for coming, adding that the VC has been his friend for a long time.
He remarked that agriculture contributes about 23 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
He equally submitted that agriculture remains “our vision for prosperity and that Ranching, Land allocation system, increased access of funding to small holders as well as increased investment in key infrastructure remain paramount in our way forward.
Nigeria is more than a nation and Agriculture is not just a business but our way of life “
At the end of the event Dr. Hashim also received an award from the association for his pedigree and commitment to progressive ideals.
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