By Ikenna Nwokedi 

Stakeholders in diverse sectors have emphasized the importance of Agriculture to National growth and development.

The emphasis was made on the occasion of the UNIZIK Faculty of Agriculture exquisite banquet and exhibition held on Saturday, 7th October 2023 at the ASUU NAU Secretariat, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State aimed at repositioning Faculty of Agriculture for Greatness and Productivity.

Declaring the event open, UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, FAS, stated that the purpose of the event is to harmonize all that has been done in the institution in the area of Agriculture through the faculty in order to get the needed support to enhance a very important sector of the economy.

Esimone pointed out that there is need for all to support the good workers of the Faculty towards achieving her potentials as productivity is important in moving the institution forward. The institution's Chief Executive emphasized that any country who promotes agriculture cannot go down. He called on stakeholders to support the Faculty of Agriculture through funding, social amenities, machines and agricultural equipment as well as provision of infrastructures in her quest to move to their permanent site domiciled at Ifite-Ogwari.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and lawmaker representing Anambra Central Senatorial zone, Chief Sir Victor Umeh described Agriculture as the mainstay of major economies in the globe. Umeh commended the Faculty of Agriculture under the leadership of Prof. Ebenebe for putting together such a wonderful programme which also showcased the agricultural products of the faculty.

Senator Umeh stated that they are poised to attract investors who will partner with the faculty to aid the commercialization of their products in order to generate funds and produce more food not just for the University but the state at large. The lawmaker emphasized that should Nigeria fail in all ventures, we should not fail in the area of agriculture as the nation is blessed with arable lands, soil, weather and resources to make the sector thrive. He stated that Nigeria is in distress and the only way to solve her challenges and fight poverty is through investment in agriculture.

On his part, the Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial zone, Senator Dr. Tony Nwoye eulogized the University Management under the leadership of Prof. Esimone for the attention given to the faculty and agriculture as a sector. Nwoye commended Prof. Ebenebe and her team for the inroads made through teaching, research, exhibition and agricultural products. 

The lawmaker specially commended the Faculty for their innovations in the area of teaching students the nitty gritty of grant writing, fund drive and aspect of self sustainance. He promised to assist the Faculty in addressing issues such as accommodation and funding to enable the Faculty achieve her dreams of becoming one of the best in the country.

In her address, the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Cordelia Ebenebe thanked all and sundry coming from all works of life to grace the occasion and to also witness the take-off of the Faculty to a height where it would be ranked among the best Faculties of Agriculture in the country and the world at large.

"The Faculty has grown from babyhood to adolescent so it is time to transit to adulthood. The transition to adulthood if not well planned results into the making of an adult with babybrain, thus, the need for repositioning of the Faculty to prepare her for an adult stage characterized by greatness and productivity," Ebenebe stated.

Ebenebe informed that she researched into the ten best Faculties of Agriculture in Nigeria and in the globe were she discovered that the four main characteristics that made them stand out include Visibility on the World Wide Web, Commercialization of Research products, Collaboration/linkage with prominent institutions and Winning of Grants by staff and students.

The Dean stated that she has constituted a number of geeks into the faculty's ICT unit for visibility and to ensure lecturers and students are being trained on grant proposal writing. The scholar revealed that they are privileged to have income generating facilities such as Giant Oven, Oil Palm Press, Feed mill equipment and more purchased by the institution's visionary Vice-Chancellor but the equipment still needs to be mounted to be utilized optimally.

She highlighted challenges of accommodation at the permanent site of the Faculty domiciled at Ifite-Ogwari while eulogizing UNIZIK VC for his immense support and that of Ifite-Ogwari Community and her traditional ruler via the donation of 119 hectrares of land for the establishment of the Faculty as well as the Umueje community who followed the footprints of Ifite-Ogwari by donation of lands to the Faculty.

Also Speaking, Rev. Fr. Basil Ekwunife who represented the President-General of Ifite-Ogwari and the Community's Education Committee praised Prof. Ebenebe and her team for their efforts in making agricultural practices visible with their innovations and creativity which has yielded positively with huge agricultural products. The clergy thanked the traditional ruler of Ifite-Ogwari, UNIZIK VC and all those who are working in various ways to lift the Faculty and promote the agricultural sector. 

Others who lend their voices during occasion were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) UNIZIK, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu; the member representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Peter Aniekwe; the member representing Ihiala 2 Constituency and Chairman House Committee on Agriculture at the Anambra State House of Assembly (ANSHA), Hon. Golden Chukwuemeka Iloh; the traditional ruler of Ifite-Ogwari, HRM Igwe Dr. A.I Ofuebe; the Chairperson LOC for the banquet and exhibition, Dr. Eucharia Obidiebube and the President, National Association of Agriculture Students (NAAS), Mr. Stanley Ebuka Nwoye.

Highpoints of the occasion were the unveiling and launching of the Faculty products, support towards repositioning of the Faculty, cash awards to researchers with highest google citation, cash awards to best students of the Faculty and documentary on Faculty of Agriculture Ifite-Ogwari titled showcasing of Faculty assets and challenges.