President Tinubu Commends FUNAAB Global Ranking; Declares Food Security a National Security Priority

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State for consistently recording giant strides in agricultural education, innovation, and research, reiterating his administration's commitment to promoting agriculture and food security.

The President gave the commendation at FUNAAB’s 33rd Convocation Ceremony, where 4,141 students were awarded degrees in different courses of study.

He was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi.

He noted that the University's mandate of producing graduates equipped with the skills and mindset to drive national productivity is in consonance with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

While applauding FUNAAB'’s consistent leadership in agricultural education, innovation and research, he noted that its continental and global recognition, as being ranked as the Best University of Agriculture in Africa and seventh globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) 2024 rankings, gave credence to the relevance to its mandate.

The Visitor also mentioned the University's placement among the world’s top 10 institutions for teaching skills and its first-place ranking in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) performance in 2024.

The President, who added that Nigeria stands at a defining moment currently facing national and global challenges such climate change, food insecurity, fast growing population and economic volatility, stressed that institutions like FUNAAB become central to confronting them by deploying smart agricultural technology, saying that "food security is national security".

He said his administration is committed to making agriculture attractive to the youths and other agricultural entrepreneurs by providing them with quality seeds, fertilizers, access to credit facilities and other modern farming tools, as the current phase in agriculture requires smart farming techniques and technologies.

The President, who further noted that universities should prioritise demand- driven research, urged the graduating students to explore the different limitless opportunities available in the agriculture value chain, because the future of agriculture lies in their hands.

On his part, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who was represented by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, equally commended FUNAAB for the iconic projects undertaken by the current leadership.

He noted that the projects commissioned are symbols of progress.

While speaking on the theme: 'Integrating Agriculture and Youth Development: A New Paradigm for the Nigerian Education System,' Dr. Tunji Alausa said the topic is apt and timely, adding that education should not be only as 'conveyor of certificates, but rather "as a catalyst for economic productivity, job creation and sustainable food systems".

Describing the graduands as problem-solvers, he urged them to deploy the knowledge gained to revolutionarise the agriculture sector in order to engender food security.