NWAJIUBA AGAIN CALLS FOR REVIEW OF STRUCTURE AND CURRICULUM OF AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
Vice Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State, Prof. Chinedum U. Nwajiuba, who was key note speaker at the opening session of 63rd AGM and Conference of Association of Deans of Agriculture in Nigerian Universities (ADAN), has again canvassed for adjustment of the course content of agriculture as a discipline in Nigeria universities, to meet the needs of our present times and as obtained in many world class universities and institutes. Nwajiuba made this call while presenting a paper on the subject matter at NEEDS Assessment Building, AE- FUNAI, venue of the opening ceremony of the conference which held from Tuesday, 9th- Friday, 12 July, 2019.

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Recalling that in 2016 at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, at ADAN conference he asked “...for review and overhaul of the structure and curriculum of the Bachelors degree programme in Agriculture in the Nigeria University system”, but that unfortunately, there has been no action on that, even as many colleagues and very well meaning persons in and outside that conference have expressed understanding of that position he has been canvassing.

Nwajiuba in his paper laid emphasis on what is termed Agripreneurship which according to him is the idea of Agricultural Entrepreneurship deliberately trained and empowered to be commercial oriented and employers of labour rather than job seekers, should be the urgent concern of universities and government. He opined that we can no longer fold our hands and watch our situation where the agricultural sector has become stagnated by low technology and poor mechanization. “Where then is the generation next in Agriculture?”, he asked, especially now that prospective JAMB Applicants into Nigerian Universities do not even consider Agriculture as option in their choice of courses.

He emphasised that universities should create Agribusinesses and profit-oriented farms that are Agriculture based in our universities. These Agro based business format should have students of Agriculture engaged to work on part time basis and paid stipends while being trained. He therefore called on government and non-government concerns including international organisations, who are engaged with development in Nigeria to urgently buy into this proposal. He buttressed his position that Agricultural programmes in the Nigeria university system should not go beyond four years, by citing examples of four year and three year BSc programmes across and around the world from UK to USA, Germany, Czech, Romania, Australia, China, India, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa. He also presented a four year BSc programme in Agriculture designed at the AE-FUNAI.

While receiving ADAN executives at VC’s Conference Room during courtesy call on the VC to kick start the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Jonny Ogunji, Director, Academic Planning, who represented VC at the event told the visitors that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nwajiuba and the university authorities are heartily grateful to ADAN for choosing AE-FUNAI to host their 63rd AGM, pointing out that the university appreciates the importance of agriculture, hence the establishment of faculty of agriculture in 2016, which was authenticated by ADAN. VC further stated that related to agriculture is the Campus Green Initiative the university has aggressively embarked on to massively plant trees that will not only provide vegetation in the campus but will also provide food. He regretted that the wind storm that destroyed properties of the university in May this year, could not have been that devastating if plants existed to save our environment. He reiterated that AE- FUNAI is working hard to become world class university and that the status cannot be achieved if the university could not implement these three core mandates -Teaching, Research and Community Service which of course are drivers of AE- FUNAI programmes and activities.

Prof. I. Osakwe, Dean PG School and chairman LOC in his welcome address at the opening ceremony, said that the theme of this conference, value addition to Agriculture in Nigeria, has been carefully selected by the organizers to agitate the minds of participants in order to critically review the policy, growth and also in development in Agriculture and food production in our nation. He thereafter stressed that in spite of petroleum and mineral solid exploration, agriculture remains the major sector of the Nigeria economy. Involving an overwhelming segment of the populace, he further said that majority of Nigerians depend on Agriculture and AE-FUNAI sees the importance of Agriculture and makes it a point of duty that anyone that visited the university will be part of the Campus Green Initiative. He added that the essence of the meeting is for the participants and especially the Dean of Agriculture AE-FUNAI to rub minds and share ideas on the best practices to be adopted in addressing the afore-mentioned questions and ensure that our graduates can compete favourably with graduates from other universities.


Ag. Dean of faculty of Agriculture Dr. Christiana Igberi, expressed her unreserved gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor of AE-FUNAI for giving approval and support for the Faculty to host the AGM and conference pointing out that active participation in the conference will enable faculty of Agriculture to be focused on quality teaching, research and problem solving. She stated that everyone should go back to the root where interest and passion in skill development determined the course of action and not the stretch of time.
President of ADAN, Prof. M. A. Bamikole explained that the association has been in existence for about 64 years in Nigeria and that membership has grown significantly. He further said that active participation in policy advocacy and formulation in the Agricultural sector and collaborating with youth initiative for sustainable agriculture for promotion of Agribusiness related activities among students and graduates of Agriculture in Nigeria are their key concerns. Bankole had earlier during courtesy call thanked VC for identifying with the association and for all the support he has always given to them.
Chairman of event, Senator Dr. Emmanuel Onwe, former commissioner for information in Ebonyi state, expressed his unreserved gratitude to the association and organisers of the conference for inviting him as he loves being among great people, where ideas are being exchanged and where the future of students are being discussed. He further said that to make this idea grow faster, we have to partner with the public and that is high time we started taking agriculture more seriously by making it a good business.

Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dr. David Nweze Umahi ably represented at the event by Dr. Mrs Rita Okoro, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, said that the Governor was overwhelmed for ADAN to have chosen Ebonyi State for their 63rd AGM and that the gap between the university community and the government should be bridged in order to achieve a good result in Agricultural development.



Highlight of the event were launching of a book titled Adding Value to Agricultural Training in Nigeria, published by Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike, and meritorious awards to HE Engr. Dr. David Umahi, Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, and some ADAN executives including Prof. Folusho Morenike David- Abraham, Chairperson of Board of Trustees, Prof. Mrs Ngozi Ifeoma Odiaka, Dr. Christopher Aimiuwu and Prof. Bagoro, E.S.

It'll boost the nation's economy and create for self-reliance. Thumps up prof!