The Acting Vice Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Prof. Wole Banjo FWISON , FASN recently added to his feathers of academic cap when he bagged a Fellowship Award of the the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, (ASN).
ProfBanjo bagged the award during the 55th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria,(ASN), which took place at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State tagged, “OWO MADE 2021” with the theme; ‘UNLOCKING THE POTENTIALS OF AGRICULTURAL VALUE CHAIN FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA’.
Prof. Banjo while accepting the 2021 Fellowship Award of Agricultural Society of Nigeria, (ASN), in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the ASN and the Agricultural Development in the country thanked the Society for bestowing the highest award on him with the promise to redouble his efforts towards the advancement of the aims and objectives of ASN.
Prof Banjo appealed to the Federal and State Government to increase the budgetary allocation earmarked for the Agricultural sector so as to fight the high cost of food items and the resulting hunger bedevilling the nation.
He noted that Nigeria has everything it requires to feed the teeming number of it’s populace and even to export.
“For the nation to get out of the economic challenges and the high level of youth unemployment, the youth need to be encouraged and supported with funds to take up farming as a vocation rather than searching for the elusive white collar jobs that are non-existent”, the Acting Vice Chancellor further added.
Prof. Banjo speaking further, noted that Nigeria needs to diversify the economy and allow other sectors like Agriculture to take it’s rightful place as alternative source of wealth generation for the nation instead of the turbulence that characterised oil and it’s price in the International market.
In his opening speech at the Annual Conference, the President of the Society, Dr Mohammed N. Ishaq disclosed that this year theme was carefully crafted to showcase the Federal Government emphasis on agricultural value chain which he noted can bridged the gap noticeable in the Agricultural sector.
The President of the Society disclosed that the Society with other stakeholders are pushing for the establishment of the Nigeria Institute of Agriculturists (NIAg) as a Professional body, stressing that the move would help in repositioning Agriculture to take its deserved role as a major driver for the national economy.
Dr Mohammaed Ishaq gave accolades to the Rector, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Mr Gani Adebowale Ogundahunsi for allowing the Society to use the institution as the venue of this year’s conference and other stakeholders who supported the body.
On the entourage of the Acting Vice-Chancellor were the Institution’s Acting Bursar, Mr Oluwabunmi Abdullahi, the Dean, College of Vocational and Technology Education, (COVTED), Prof. B.J.O. Ayorinde among others.
