FUNAAB Pro-Chancellor Urges Nigerians to Return to Farming for National Food Security

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), His Royal Majesty, Oba Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji Land, has called on Nigerians to embrace farming as a shared national duty, stressing that food sufficiency is central to the country’s survival.

Oba Olabomi made the call on October 9, 2025, during an inspection tour of the University’s agricultural projects and partner farms. He emphasized that food production cannot thrive without active participation, noting that, “we cannot feed ourselves in our religious houses without direct involvement in farming.”

He urged citizens to devote more time to agriculture rather than spending excessive hours in religious gatherings, pointing out that sustainable solutions to hunger can only come through hands-on engagement in farming.

Accompanied by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Babatunde Kehinde, and members of the Governing Council, the Pro-Chancellor commended FUNAAB’s strong partnerships with agripreneurs nationwide, describing the University as a model institution driving agricultural revitalization through impactful collaborations.

The inspection began at Musarchy Farms, managed by Mr. Taiwo Ojediran, where the team assessed greenhouse-grown Bell and Habanero peppers, cassava fields, and a mature dwarf pawpaw plantation. Oba Olabomi applauded the farm’s partnership with FUNAAB and encouraged more Nigerians to invest in primary agricultural production to strengthen the national food chain.

At Harvest Field Farms, a 250-hectare venture in partnership with FUNAAB, the Pro-Chancellor urged farmers to integrate modern technologies, including irrigation systems, to overcome unpredictable rainfall patterns and boost output.

During a visit to Auxano Farms and Produce Limited, which currently cultivates 240 hectares of its 500-hectare land, the Acting Director of the Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS), Dr. Emmanuel Bankole, revealed that FUNAAB has been offering technical and infrastructural support to partner farms at subsidised rates. Oba Olabomi, in response, encouraged the enterprise to expand mechanisation and leverage digital tools to scale productivity.

The team also toured Zino Agritech Farms, co-managed by Mr. Deji Olomojoji and Dr. Theo Onadeko, where the Pro-Chancellor commended the managers’ resilience amid weather-related challenges, urging them to continue adopting innovative farming methods.

Reaffirming FUNAAB’s leadership in advancing the Federal Government’s food security drive, Oba Olabomi stated that the University remains committed to transforming Nigerian agriculture through partnerships that merge research, technology, and practice.

“FUNAAB is demonstrating that the future of Nigerian agriculture depends on strong collaboration between academia and industry,” he said. “Together, we can transform farmlands into centres of productivity and national prosperity.”