At the AgriConnect Summit in Lagos, former President Olusegun Obasanjo emphasized the vital role of innovation in agriculture for human survival and development.
Speaking on the theme “Bridging the Divide: Cultivating Collaboration and Innovation for a Sustainable Agricultural Future,” Obasanjo underscored the necessity of combining innovation, land, and financial resources to drive agricultural business. He highlighted the importance of mentorship for young farmers and commended research institutes worldwide.
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Obasanjo shared a personal anecdote about convincing his son, a Cambridge PhD holder, to pursue farming. The summit, organized in collaboration with Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited, aimed to foster a unified approach to agricultural development by bringing together leaders from technology, finance, government, and agriculture sectors. Toyosi Obasanjo, one of the organizers, expressed the summit’s commitment to overcoming barriers and enhancing collaboration to strengthen food security in Nigeria.
Temire Egbe Bob, another organizer, stressed the importance of inspiring youth and promoting collaboration. Highlighting the role of smallholder farmers, Nwabuko discussed the challenges they face, including access to inputs, financing, markets, technology, security, and infrastructure.
He advocated for cluster farming and cooperatives as more effective solutions for addressing these challenges. Nwabuko also called for enabling government policies, citing the Plant Variety Protection Act as a key policy that supports agricultural development by protecting intellectual property and encouraging technology adoption.
