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Prof. Akinbile Calls for Stronger Agricultural Extension to Boost Food Security

Professor Luqman Abiodun Akinbile of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ibadan, has called for stronger and more structured agricultural extension services as a critical step towards achieving food security and sustainable national development.

He made this call while delivering the 594th Inaugural Lecture of the University on behalf of the Faculty of Agriculture, titled “Nigerian Agriculture: Untapped Goldmine in Need of the Imminent Impetus.”

The lecture was held at the Trenchard Hall on Thursday, 25th September, 2025, and was attended by academics, students, dignitaries, and other esteemed guests.

Delivering his lecture, Prof. Akinbile emphasized that Nigerian agriculture has vast potential waiting to be tapped to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and food security among citizens, stressing the critical role of agriculture and food production in the nation’s development.

To unlock this potential, he made several key recommendations, including adequate funding of extension activities, regularisation of extension services, professionalisation of extension practice, effective research-extension-farmer-input-market linkage, and the fortification of infrastructure for agricultural needs.

He also stressed the need for capacity building in value addition to enable Nigeria to become an exporter of finished agricultural products rather than raw produce, thereby increasing the value of agricultural activities.

The professor urged that the Agricultural Extension Policy currently before the National Assembly should be taken to its logical conclusion and approved by the President.

“The practice of agricultural extension unlocks the goldmine that agriculture is by fulfilling the role of the imminent impetus for agricultural development and food security,” he stated.