Key Takeaways

• Nigerian scholars advocate for modern agricultural extension systems to enhance food security.
• Keynote speech emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary approaches in agricultural education.
• Challenges in agriculture include insecurity, climate change, and underfunded extension services.

Modernizing Agricultural Extension in Nigeria

Nigerian scholars are urging greater investment in modern agricultural extension systems to address pressing food security concerns in the country. This call to action emerged during a memorial lecture series hosted by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in honor of Prof. Lawrence Onyekele Obibuaku, who was the first Head of the Department of Agricultural Extension and passed away in 2021.

Prof. Keletapwa Farauta, the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, delivered the keynote lecture on “From Vision to Practice: The Agricultural Extension Legacy of Professor Lawrence Obibuaku.” She noted that the late Obibuaku’s vision has gained renewed significance due to contemporary challenges in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. These issues include farmer insecurity, climate change, rising production costs, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient access to extension support.

Farauta criticized the current state of agricultural extension systems, which remain underfunded and overstretched, deviating from the Food and Agriculture Organization’s recommendation of one extension officer for every 1,000 farmers. Emphasizing the need for universities to prepare extension professionals, she argued that education should integrate climate science, nutrition, and digital technology. “Extension must be taught in connection with nutrition, public health, and rural economics,” she stressed.

Investment in modern agricultural tools such as digital platforms and climate advisory systems was also highlighted. Farauta insisted that technology must enhance, not replace, human interactions in extension services. She argued that no nation can achieve agricultural transformation while ignoring the systems that connect innovation to farmers.

Prof. Uchenna Ortuanya, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, praised Obibuaku’s foundational work in agricultural extension, reiterating his belief that it should be farmer-centered and socially responsible. Ortuanya stated that the memorial lecture was not just commemorative but an opportunity to revisit Obibuaku’s principles to address current issues like climate change and food insecurity.

Dr. Patrick Uburu from the Enugu State Commission on Agriculture emphasized that while policies exist for food security and agricultural commercialization, extension services remain underdeveloped, necessitating investment in digital advisory systems and partnerships.

Prof. John Eze, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, lamented that security challenges and economic hardship have led to a lack of food availability, countering previous successes in food security during Obibuaku’s era.

Dr. Ordu Obibuaku, son of the late professor, accepted a posthumous award on behalf of his father, affirming his legacy as “a distinguished academic” and highlighting a donation for a new department building as a tribute to his father’s dedication to education.

The Head of the Agricultural Extension Department, Prof. Jane Mbolle Chad, emphasized that the memorial lecture aims to establish a lasting platform for reflection and scholarship, ensuring that Obibuaku’s vision for agricultural extension continues to inspire future generations.

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