Vice Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Prof. Timothy Abiodun Adebayo has proffered solutions to the ravaging hunger and poverty in the country, stating that ‘one of the ways out of food insecurity is for every Nigerian to tickle the land for our collective wealth and comfort’
According to the university administrator, “if we can tickle the land, the land will yield its treasure. All of us will eat and be comfortable and there will be wealth and peace in the society. Without being metaphorical, I am saying the way out of the crises rocking the country is for Nigeria to take agriculture more seriously”
Speaking while inspecting Teaching and Research Farm of the university, Prof. Adebayo who expressed delight with the developments in the farm declared, “this is what I have been saying, and this is the same position I maintain that Nigeria has no reason to be poor, neither do Nigerians need to experience hunger if only we could take agricultural practices with all seriousness”
Taking a periscopic glance at the large expanse of land with various crops, he gloated, “Look at our maize, see cassava, see our pineapple, look at our vegetables coming up strongly. In the next three weeks ACU community will have to invite market women to come and buy our produce because I am sure this is just to much for our university community to consume!”, he said, pointing out that agricultural practices remain our major way out of poverty in this country”
Prof. Adebayo who himself an agriculturist pointed out that “if you extrapolate the little experiment we are carrying out here to every part of the country, do you think people will be begging before eating? Do you think crime rate in the country will go up? Once people are well-fed, they will not think of committing crimes”
He declared, “God has given us everything we need to succeed in this country. We have good arable land. We have good weather. What else do we need? There are many countries in the world with desert, yet, they irrigate the land and feed themselves. I keep asking myself, what is our problem? Let us go back to farm. Let us rare animals. Let us plant all we need, we shall have enough to eat and sell.
With seriousness in agricultural practices, Prof. Adebayo asserted, “we will be able to support livelihoods through food, habitat and create jobs, just as we will be able to provide raw materials for industries. In fact, we will be earning foreign currencies as we export our produce like in the golden days of cocoa”
Prof. Adebayo who also witnessed castration process of a pig in the piggery section of the Teaching and Research Farm commended the workers for their dedication and creativity, urging them not to relent because, according to him, “universities are expected to set good examples for the society”
Among those who accompanied the VC were the Dean of Agriculture, Prof. Joshua O. Amoo, Prof. Akanbi Wasiu Babatunde, Head, Department of Crop and Animal Science, Dr. Moses Adeolu Adebayo, Dr. Oyatokun Olukayode Steven, Dr. Mrs. Akinyode O. O. , Mr. Oyelakin Folorunso Oyebola, and Mr. Ajiwe Samuel Temitope.
