The Executive Chairman of Origin Tech Group Nigeria, Samuel Joseph Samuel, has admonished Nigerians to key into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agricultural revolution agenda captured in the Greener Hope Agricultural Productivity Programme (GHAPP) as a catalyst for unlocking the country’s economic potential.
Samuel reiterated this position while receiving the Governing Council members of the Obafemi Awolowo University, led by the Vice Chancellor, at the corporate headquarters of the Origin Tech Group in continuation of talks around developing a robust partnership between the university and the company.
“Agriculture is key to Nigeria’s growth potential”, Samuel said, adding, “In driving Nigeria’s economic development.”
He maintained that the agriculture value-chain presents “an opportunity that can easily transform Nigeria’s economy into an engine room of prosperity through partnerships, strategic investment, strong governance, and sustainable practices and as such, the pivotal role of tertiary institutions such as OAU is very important.
“The 21st century has opened new vistas for economic growth, and with agriculture now in its ascendancy, commercial large-scale farming and its value chain stand out as the most promising tool for economic enhancement. Describing large-scale agriculture as the sustainable use of innovation, mechanisation, irrigation water resources, amongst other components for growth of food systems, market re-organisation, job creation, and improved livelihoods,” he said.
“The Nigerian population continues to grow at nearly three per cent per annum, with a projection of 378 million by 2050, and with nearly 70 per cent of its population under the age of 30, leading to increasing urbanisation and, invariably, an increase in food demand.
“Ensuring food security requires a value chain that connects rural and urban areas so that the expected high demand for food is achieved. Hence, the role of stakeholders, including institutions like OAU, generating ideas, producing skilled manpower and boosting capacity, is crucial towards achieving this food challenge,” he said.
While responding, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, commended Samuel and Origin Tech Group for the laudable and innovative focus that they are employing in solving societal challenges, especially around food systems transformation.
He submitted that Nigerians should return to the farms as the panacea for solving our multifarious economic challenges. Bamire showed enthusiasm in the various works and projects being embarked upon by the company and affirmed that partnering with an organisation such as the Origin Tech Group is valuable, given the abundant technical skills, access to resources, and longevity in the agriculture space, which will provide the right kind of impetus to the future industry leaders we are currently training.
