Minister pushes for student-led innovation in food security

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has underscored the importance of creating a supportive environment that fosters research, innovation and entrepreneurship among students.

He also urged students to take the initiative to launch startups, develop innovative applications, and boost productivity across various sectors.

By doing so, Kyari believes that students can make a significant impact on the economy and become the visionary leaders and game-changers of the future.

Senator Kyari spoke during the end-of-term students’ solution hackathon, organised by KNOSK N100-a-day school, Kuje.

The event, themed “Innovation to Reduce Farm Produce Wastages Among Local Farmers,” was organised in partnership with Emadeb Foundation.

Represented by Dr. Dare Olorunmola, the minister stressed the importance of empowering students to drive national development, particularly in the agricultural sector.

He noted that agriculture plays a crucial role in Africa’s economic growth, food security, and sustainable development.

To address the challenges facing the sector, he called for investments in education and skills development.

He said: “By integrating agriculture into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, we can equip young minds with the knowledge and tools to revolutionize the agricultural sector. This approach will enable them to develop cutting-edge technologies and solutions that will enhance productivity and resilience in farming systems.

“Collaboration between governments, the private sector, and entrepreneurs is also critical. By investing heavily in agricultural research and development (R&D), we can overcome key challenges faced by farmers, including climate change, inadequate inputs, weak extension services, and limited resources. With these efforts, we will be better equipped to build an agricultural sector that is both sustainable and competitive.

“Agriculture is not just about food production; it is a critical player in the fight against climate change. By adopting climate-smart practices, such as precision farming and efficient fertilizer application, we can reduce the sector’s environmental impact while ensuring food security. This dual approach helps mitigate climate vulnerabilities and strengthens our resilience to environmental challenges.”

In their separate goodwill messages, the Vice-Chancellor of Prime University Abuja, Prof. Moses Zaruwa, Rion Magan of the Embassy of Ireland, as well as representatives of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Amnesty International, lauded the founders of KNOSK School, Kingsley and Irene Bangwell, for the initiative, adding that the solution hackathon would help solve some of the pressing challenges confronting the country.

This sentiment was also shared by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri, who delivered a pre-recorded message and promised to sponsor some children during the next academic session, beginning in January 2025.

On her part, the Executive Director of Emadeb Energy Group, Olugbesoye Olujimi, noted that the programme has instilled an entrepreneurial mindset in the students, focusing on developing problem-solving skills.

“During this hackathon, you have done more than compete. You have learned creative thinking and solutions. I urge you not to give up on your dreams,” she said.

The high point of the event was the presentation of cash prizes and certificates to winners. While Marble Enterprise (64 points), Blazing Innovative Solvers (61 points), and Investors (57 points) emerged as first, second, and third junior winners, respectively, Fixers Infinito (64 points), Mega Thinkers (61 points), and Alpha Dynamite (60 points) came out as gold, silver, and bronze winners in the senior category.