President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, on Tuesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, stressed the importance of ensuring that Africa truly becomes truly able to feed itself.
In an acceptance speech as he was conferred with an honorary Doctorate of Science by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, he noted that the ongoing population explosion in the continent means there would be more mouths to feed, hence the importance of food and agribusiness.
The doctorate degree, according to a statement was to honour Adesina for his work in agriculture and food security across the continent.
He reminded students of the important role they have to play in the continent’s economic development, commending the Nigerian government’s efforts to promote agriculture and agribusiness in the country.
“Agriculture is the most important profession and business in the world,” Adesina added, pledging the AfDB’s continued support to transform Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
“The size of food and agriculture in Africa will rise to $1 trillion by 2030. The population of Africa, now at 1.2 billion, will double to 2.5 billion by 2050. They all must eat. And only through food and agribusiness can this be achieved,” he added.
Adesina said the AfDB is spearheading efforts to feed Africa, following which it is investing $25bn over a 10-year period to transform the continent’s agriculture sector. What Africa does with food, he continued, will determine the future of food, given that 65% of the arable land left to feed the world is here.
“I am delighted to see so many of our young people engaged in agriculture arising from the Youth Employment in Agriculture initiative launched when I was minister to get the youth into agriculture as a business. From their innovations in the use of drones, food processing, packaging, transport and logistics, and marketing, they are already unlocking the opportunities in agriculture,” he said.
He urged agricultural universities to optimize their role in linking research, innovations and technologies to farmers and the food and agriculture industry.
“Africa’s youth must become leaders to help feed our world,” he advised.
Applauding the choice of Adesina as the institution’s 2020 awardee, Chancellor of the University, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Out V, the Obong of Calabar, Cross River State, described him as a global household name whose exploits in promoting value chain addition in agricultural produce have remained unparalleled.
Photo caption: Adesina being decorated at the occasion.
