• As FUNAAB Holds 33rd Convocation Lecture
Nigeria’s pathway to sustainable jobs, inclusive growth and long-term national resilience lies not in fear of automation, but in the deliberate reinvention of agriculture as a coordinated, system-driven engine of work.

This was the position of a world renowned banker, investor and philanthropist, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, at the 33rd Convocation Lecture of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

Speaking on the theme: “Agriculture, the Future of Work, and the University as Catalyst,” Aig-Imoukhuede challenged policymakers, universities and graduates to look beyond traditional narratives of farming and recognise agriculture as Nigeria’s most scalable platform for dignified employment, innovation and national transformation.

In the lecture, Aig-Imoukhuede noted that while global discourse on the future of work was dominated by automation and artificial intelligence, Africa’s more urgent challenge is the creation of productive, sustainable and large-scale employment for its youthful population. Agriculture, he argued, offers a unique comparative advantage.

“Agriculture is not merely about farming,” he said. “It is a complex system encompassing science, engineering, logistics, finance, technology, regulation and trade. No other sector matches its capacity to create jobs across skill levels, income bands and rural–urban divides while strengthening food security and national resilience.”

Drawing lessons from the biblical account of Joseph in Egypt and Brazil’s agricultural transformation, he emphasised that agriculture becomes truly transformative only when treated as an integrated system rather than a series of isolated interventions.

Turning to Nigeria, he observed that despite vast arable land, human capital and a large domestic market, the country remained a net food importer due to weak coordination rather than a lack of ideas or effort. “Nigeria’s agricultural story is not one of failure,” he stated, “but one of unfinished architecture.”

He urged graduates to see agriculture as a modern, technology-enabled and value-chain-driven career space, noting that the most significant employment opportunities lie beyond the farm gate, in storage, processing, logistics, quality assurance, branding and export markets.

He also cautioned against over-reliance on technology without strong institutions and governance, stressing that enduring transformation required patient capital, credible systems and consistent leadership.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, described the Convocation lecture as a celebration of excellence, learning and institutional pride. He noted that the lecture remained a defining intellectual tradition of the University, providing a platform for critical engagement with national and global challenges. He, however, expressed confidence in FUNAAB’s commitment to excellence, innovation and national development.

He urged such institutions to align more deliberately with national development priorities and the future aspirations of Nigerian youth. He raised concerns over youth unemployment and unemployability, warning of their implications for social stability and national cohesion.

Prof. Kehinde advocated a balanced educational model that combines manpower development with character formation and urged universities to embrace emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, GIS and the Internet of Things, to drive smart agriculture and innovative agribusiness. He also called for sustainability-driven research, innovation hubs and community-focused solutions, particularly for rural development.