Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Estate Services Limited, Dr Kolawole Anunlopo, has urged the Federal Government to ensure the security of farmers nationwide to boost food production in the country.

He spoke after bagging an honorary doctoral degree in Leadership and Strategic Management, alongside other prominent Nigerians, honoured in various disciplines from the University of Brazil Campinas.

With over 70 per cent of Nigerians working in the agricultural sector, mainly at a subsistence level, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Anunlopo noted that violence between farmers and herders over access to water and land in several states had endangered food production, resulting in hunger.

His words: “The current hardship stems from unending security challenges between farmers and herders, reason government must address the issues as a matter of urgency. The whole nation has been preoccupied for weeks now with debate over the tax reform bills without giving a thought about the millions others who are off the tax net, and have no means to eke out a living for themselves through farming.”

He urged the Bola Tinubu’s administration to do something urgently with a view to bringing down the current exchange rate that is impacting negatively on the cost of doing business in Nigeria.
In his nomination letter, the African representative of the university, Dr Larry Ayodeji, remarked: “The award is in line with the vision of the university to recognise and reward accomplished and illustrious, corporate, religious and political figures, who have distinguished themselves in their respective endeavours.

The Guest Speaker, Dr Gabriel  Sosanya, who spoke on the theme, ‘Strengthening The Educational System To Achieve Sustainable Goals’, enjoined the awardees not to relent in their leadership focus.