Food Security: Don urges FG, tertiary institutions to take lead, be pro-active

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja

A University Don, Prof. Joseph Omada, has urged the Federal Government and tertiary institutions across the country to take the lead through technology, vocation, entrepreneurship and training strategies in tackling the nation’s food security challenges.

Prof. Omada, Director, Research Administration with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) also urged the Federal Government to show more enthusiasm and be more proactive in addressing the nagging security challenges facing the country to ensure food sufficiency.

Omada made the call in a Convocation Lecture titled, “Providing National Food Security: The Role of Nigerian Tertiary Institutions”, on Friday, as part of activities for the 4th Combined Convocation ceremony of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.

Omada appealed to the Federal Government to hastily address the insecurity in the country to enable farmers produce enough food without the fear of being attacked.

Omada, who is also a former Reactor of Kogi Polytechnic, also urged the government to assist farmers with quality seeds and innovative tools to boost farm products.

He urged government at all levels to assist farmers with quality seeds and innovative tools like fertilizers as a way out, to end the prevailing hunger ravaging communities across the country.

“Dry season and irrigation farming should also be encouraged and supported by government to both small-and large-scale farmers as well as provision of good roads, water, schools and electricity in rural areas to reduce rural-urban migration.

“Good roads, water, schools and electricity should be provided for rural areas to reduce rural-urban migration,” he said.”

Prof. Omada affirmed that a lot of gains are derivable from food security saying that according to report by USAID (2011) where food is available, accessible, stable and well utilized by all people, peaceful coexistence will be experienced and the nation will record steady development.

He said that with Food Security, secures human dignity and provide real opportunity to explore available resources, ensure justice, security at highest level, unlock a vast resources of human innovation, experience less hunger, stronger and ensure a healthier nation.

The Don affirmed that development of Nigeria in the Millennium is tied to food security and should accord farmers the needed supports.

“Farmers need encouragement and support from the government, institutions and other partners in order to go back to their farms for both rainy and dry season farming, so that there will be food in abundant supply”, Omada said.

He, however commended the Federal Government for its recent efforts to boost food security through the cultivation of several hectares of farmland for grains this dry season.

“A country that is food secured will attract investors, who will add to the growth and development as well as improve the economy of the nation.

“These investors will be employers of labour which in turn, will add value to people’s lives, reduce levels of unemployment, poverty and hunger”, Omada maintained.

Earlier, the chairman of the Convocation Lecture and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja (FUL), Prof. Akinwumi Olayemi commended the choice of the Lecture topic saying that it will go a long way in finding lasting solution to the nation’s dwindling economy and Food Security. (Ends)