The Project Coordinator, Kogi State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Chief (Barr.) Ladi Ahmed Jatto, OON, was at the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), today to deliver a lecture on “Exploring the Nexus between Climate Change, Land Degradation, and Food Security”, which she spoke as Guest Speaker at a special orientation program for pioneer students of the brand-new Faculty of Agriculture in the University.
The Project Coordinator, who thanked the school authority for the honour, brought her wealth of experience to bear on the subject matter. She took her time to shed light on the critical concepts of climate change, land degradation, and food security, establishing the interconnectedness of the tripodal issues, and how climate change and land degradation negatively impact food security.
As a way of mitigating the impact of climate change and land degradation on food security, Barr Ladi advocated the implementation of climate smart agriculture, sustainable land management practices, policy and governance, stakeholder engagement, research and development, water management, among others, as the way forward.
She went on to challenge the pioneer students of the Faculty of Agriculture to ensure that, as future leaders, they study hard, research widely, and work towards being worthy actors in providing lasting solutions to issues bordering on food security in Nigeria and Africa at large. “There is great difference between the Secondary school where you are coming from and the University; in the secondary schools, your teachers spoon-fed you, whereas in the university you need to research and work hard! As students of Agriculture, the food security of the nation rests on your shoulders, as you must find new ways to grow food for the nation”, the Project Coordinator echoed.
Highlights of the program were short and apt presentations delivered by the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Olufunmilola Alabi, where she admonished the students to be diligent in their studies, as it was the bedrock to success; this was followed by a keynote address by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, who specially thanked the Project Coordinator for honouring their invitation; as well as other lectures geared towards adequately preparing the students for the arduous task of learning ahead of them.
Afterwards, there was a question-and-answer session, where the Project Coordinator fielded questions from the evidently energized students, who wanted to know more about the ACReSAL Project, other aspects of the Project Coordinator’s lecture, as well as a photo session with staff and students of the Faculty of Agriculture.