President Bola Tinubu has underscored the establishment of specialised universities of agriculture, to make Nigeria not only self-sufficient in food production, but a path towards attaining food security.

Tinubu, who disclosed this at the weekend, in an address read by the Director of Extension Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Deola- Tayo Lordbanjou, during the 12th Convocation ceremony of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, said Nigeria has excellent potentials for agricultural investments.

While noting that the establishment of more of such universities was a well thought out and planned policy to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food production, the president said Nigeria needs the solid support of her agricultural scientists and experts as strategic game changers to end hunger.

A total of 5,206 graduands, from various agriculture disciplines, were conferred with various degrees of the University during the Convocation ceremony.

From the breakdown of the 5,026 graduates, 4,781 received first degrees, 162 were awarded First Class, 49 Postgraduate Diplomas, 252 Masters and 164 Doctorates (Ph.Ds).

The president said considering the diversity of Nigerian soil, crops, livestock, climate and the large population, he is confident that the country can provide its needs for staple foods from local production.

He lauded the university for nurturing and equipping the agriculture graduates with relevant knowledge and requisite skills to drive the nation’s agriculture growth and development engine stressing that “agriculture remains a strategic sector for diversifying our economy, while as a nation, we are looking up to the universities to innovatively drive the transformation of our agricultural sector to achieve food security, diversify the economy and broaden the base for industrialisation.”

The MOUAU new Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council, Comrade Fidelis Ede, who pleaded that more National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) should be channeled to agriculture students, vowed that the Governing Council shall fully comply with the statutory policy of not to interfere in the daily administration of universities but strive to uphold accountability and demonstrable results in Council’s affairs.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, while congratulating the graduates, cited paucity of funds, universities Staff Unions industrial actions, among others as their major challenges.

The VC also urged the students to change their poor attitude towards accessing the Federal Government’s NELFUND and begin to access the loan made available on generous terms.

The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, represented by his deputy, Mr Ikechukwu Emetu tasked the graduates to apply the knowledge acquired and play effectively, crucial roles in state and national agriculture and food development.