• ‘Rewards outstanding Ekiti local farmers with over N170m in 10 years’
• AU commits to investing $100m to improve food systems in Africa

Founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola (SAN), has decried the laziness of many Nigerians towards productive ventures, thereby contributing to food insecurity in the country.

This was just as the legal icon rewarded outstanding farmers and youths in the state with N177.7 million under his agriculture promotion programme, tagged “Afe Babalola Agric Expo and Youth Empowerment’, (ABA-EX).

In this year’s edition, over N44 million in cash was given to deserving people. The breakdown of the largesse showed that farmers in each of the 16 local councils of the state got money ranging from N200,000, N150,000, N100,000, N75,000 to N50,000, while youths, who were empowered, also got varied sums, as well as start- up kits for their businesses.

Babalola, who spoke at the weekend, during the closing of the three-day programme, held at ABUAD, said that the yearly distribution of the cash gifts, which is now 10 years old, apart from complementing the government’s efforts at rejuvenating agriculture, was also aimed at making agriculture attractive to young people.

He, however, expressed regrets at the high rate of laziness and indolence on the part of many Nigerians, especially the young ones, restating that Nigeria could survive with agriculture if well managed.

RELATEDLY, the African Union (AU) has committed to investing $100 million in public and private sector investment to improve agrifood systems in the African continent by 2035.

The commitment was part of the Kampala Declaration endorsed by Nigeria and other AU member-countries. The National Focal Person for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), Onijighogia Emmanuel, disclosed this while unveiling the outcomes of the Kampala Declaration to stakeholders in Abuja, at the weekend, organised by German International Cooperation (GIZ) and ActionAid. He said that the Kampala Declaration builds on the Maputo Declaration and the Malabo Declaration.

Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the Expo, Prof. Abiodun Ojo, said the introduction and continued sponsorship of the yearly event by Babalola was fast rekindling the hope that the country could overcome its problems of national unemployment. He described the 10th-year anniversary of the Afe Babalola Agric Expo as a decade of impact.

Also, Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, praised the efforts of a few selfless citizens exhibiting patriotism as Babalola is currently doing.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Ebenezer Boluwade, commended Babalola for using his wealth to assist both the government and the people to lift agriculture and create employment, among several other areas of human endeavours.

He described agriculture as a leading occupation in the state, with over 65 per cent participation, saying that Babalola’s intervention and partnership was in the right direction, which the state government deeply appreciated.

In a goodwill message, Secretary-General, Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO (NATCON – UNESCO), Dr Olatunji Idowu Lateef, said ABUAD, through ABA-EX, directly addresses several Initiated United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Onijighogia, however, said that the Kampala Declaration targeted at shifting from agriculture to agrifood, which include production, trade, investment, food security, inclusivity and governance.

In the same vein, the GIZ Agriculture Advisor, Precious Jacclenmi, stated that the workshop was organised to create a space to ensure that perspectives, experiences, and recommendations of actors in the sector shape the future of agricultural transformation and food systems governance in Nigeria.

Also, Food and Agriculture Systems Specialist ActionAid Nigeria, Azubike Nwokoye, emphasised the importance of accountability in implementing the Kampala Declaration and urged non-state actors to strengthen research, evidence generation, and policy advocacy to ensure adequate budgetary allocations for agriculture and their effective utilisation.

He said that areas requiring urgent focus include access to credit, participation by women and youths, labour-saving technologies, extension services, storage and processing facilities, and measures to reduce post-harvest losses.