By Dada Ahmed.
,,,,How Tinubu administration is tackling the challenge.
,,,,Commends Kwara governor for being prudent in management of resources.
VP Kashim Shettima.
The Vice president of Nigeria,Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has identified Nigeria’s reliance on oil since the early 70s and the neglect of the agricultural sector as factor responsible for food insecurity in the country.
He stated this on Saturday at the 13th convocation lecture of Al-Hikmah university,Ilorin, Kwara state themed ‘Addressing Nigeria’s Food Security Challenges Through Hi-Tech Approach: The Role of Nigerian Universities’.
He said the challenge assumed a disturbing proportion as a result of policy inconsistencies, mismanagement of resources, corruption, climate change, insurgencies, and natural disasters, among others.
The Vice president said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu understands the nexus between food production and national security, and declared a state of emergency on food security,alongside a policy commitment to improve productivity by injecting more funds in the sector.
Shettima noted that tertiary institutions were playing critical roles in assisting the Federal Government to promote food security in Nigeria through research and the integration of agricultural study in their curriculum.
The Vice president,who said that no appreciable progress could be made in agricultural production without mechanization, called for increased and efficient use of modern technology to maximise yield.
He described the Governor of Kwara state, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq,who is also the chairman,the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), as a prudent leader and commended him for various agricultural initiatives his administration had introduced to boost food production in the state.
Speaking about the cultural composition of Ilorin, which he said exemplified a spirit of brotherhood, Shettima said Nigeria had a lot to learn from the ancient city and called on all indigenes of Ilorin to continue to be tolerant and supportive of one another and hailed peace, harmony in Kwara state.
Other dignitaries at the occasion include the Inspector General of Police, IGP. Kayode Egbetokun, who received his doctoral degree from the institution; founder of the University, Chief AbdulRaheem Oladimeji; and Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Noah Yusuf.
This is according to a statement released to The Reporters in Ilorin by Rafiu Ajakaye,
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
Meanwhile,the university awarded degrees to 1,583 students with 26 bagging First Class for the 2022/23 academic session.
The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Noah Yusuf,earlier made this knosn at the 13th convocation press briefing at the Adeta campus of the University.
