MOUAU PhD Graduate Wins NAAE Award for Best Dissertation in Agricultural Economics

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), has recorded another academic achievement as the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Economists (NAAE) honoured Anyiam Kelechi Henry with a Golden Award of Excellence for producing the overall best PhD dissertation in Agricultural Economics.

The award was announced at the 26th National Conference of NAAE, held at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, following an evaluation of doctoral research submissions.

Henry’s award-winning dissertation, titled “Gender, Production Efficiency and Food Security Status of Smallholder Upland and Swamp Rice Farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria,” examines the relationship between gender, agricultural productivity and food security.

The research was supervised by Professor K. C. Igwe and Professor J. C. Nwaru of MOUAU’s Department of Agricultural Economics. It emerged as the best PhD dissertation following the assessment process.

The recognition highlights the university’s postgraduate research supervision and commitment to academic excellence.

Reacting to the achievement, the Dean of MOUAU’s Postgraduate School, Professor Ogbonnaya I. Okoro, described the award as evidence of the university’s commitment to producing high-quality, relevant and impactful research addressing contemporary agricultural and socioeconomic challenges.

He noted that the recognition reinforces MOUAU’s position as a centre for postgraduate scholarship and innovation. He also highlighted the importance of dedicated supervision, intellectual rigour and a supportive research environment in nurturing outstanding scholars.

Similarly, Professor K. C. Igwe, one of the dissertation’s supervisors, said the achievement would motivate sustained excellence in postgraduate research and academic scholarship while encouraging other researchers to pursue greater academic distinction.

Professor Igwe added that the award reflected the researcher’s dedication, the effectiveness of collaborative supervision and the importance of evidence-based studies that can inform agricultural policies and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

The achievement also reflects the university’s ongoing academic and research efforts under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Professor Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, whose administration continues to promote research innovation, academic excellence and institutional development.