By Rotimi Famakin

An agricultural Communication Professor at the University of Ibadan, Kuta Yahaya has concluded the third phase of University of Ibadan 45th University Lecture at the Trenchard hall of the institution with options and recommendations that will solve the problem of food shortage in Nigeria.

The first two lecture series had earlier provided a fundamental insight to the root causes of of Nigeria’s food crises and lessons that could be drawn from Nigerian states and developed countries already making headway in the sector.

Two options highlighted by Professor Yahaya were nutrition intervention which he said has to do with generating locally sourced crops and  improving them to meet international standards while harnessing livestock to boost the nations Gross Domestic Product.

 He maintained that poultry, swine farming, ranching and pasture hold greater potential in not only meeting Nigeria’s food demands but increasing employment opportunities for Nigerian population.

 “Swine farming system provides large range of benefits including food security, employment opportunities and ecosystem. Therefore, if we must improve productivity, the private sector must focus more on enhancing animal efficiency, through genetic preservation, improved feeding system practices and precision farming..

 “With increasing population and the the need to ensure food security, ranching provides an indigenous root to de-escalate food insecurity with potential to tap into the export market to enhance the GDP”.

Professor Yahaya noted that the crop and livestock sectors suffered setback due to over reliance on crude oil, dependence on food importation, lack of funds and infrastructure, influence of industrial agriculture and multinational corporations as well as shift in climate change among other factors.

Professor Yahaya explained that policy intervention such as President Bola Tinubu’s Livestock Reform Implementation Committee, had been attracting foreign investors to the country.

 “Mr Vice chancelor, the role of the Presidential Livestock Reform Implementation Committee has been extensively dealt with in the past presentation where Professor Jega was in attendance. They have already attracted key international trading partners”

Among the numerous recommendations given by the Agricultural Communication Professor are leveraging on technological innovation, empowering Nigerian women and youths in local and mechanized  farming, promoting livestock business, provision of infrastructural facilities, land tenure reform, investment in transport and storage infrastructure, strong and coherence agricultural policy and community involvement in smart agricultural practices

In an interview, some notable Nigerians at the event including Professor Ibrahim Babangana said the lecture was in-depth and thought provoking with up to date recommendations on Nigeria’s food sovereignty.

Also speaking on the lecture, the Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, said Nigerian youths should see agriculture as a venture beyond food provision.

 ” We have youth population. So it is important for us to be able to harness and tell them that agriculture is no longer the agriculture they used to know. That agriculture is business. Agriculture can bring money into their pocket and I think that is the direction we need to go”

Commenting on the lecture, the Director General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, represented by the Zonal Director, FRCN Ibadan Zonal Station Mr Dominic Mokikan said food sufficiency would be achieved in Nigeria when recommendations proffered by the lecturer were fully implemented.

 “He started by telling us where we got it wrong and at the middle he told us the state of affairs at the moment. In this final phase, he took us to where we should be and how to get there by making lots of  recommendations which I believe if the government keys into and implements, our story will be different”.

The University of Ibadan 45th lecture entitled, “Decolonizing Food Security in Nigeria” kicked off with the first phase held on Thursday, the 6th of March and second phase on Thursday, March 13.

It was rounded off with the third phase on Thursday, the 20th of March 2025.

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