Afe Babalola: Agriculture remains way to go

Renowned legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has once again drawn attention to the foundational role of agriculture in national development, describing the abandonment of the sector since Nigeria’s oil discovery in 1956 as the root cause of the country’s economic and food crises.

Babalola made these remarks after receiving the 2024 Africa Man of the Year in Food Security award from the Forum for International Green Sustainability (FIGS)—an honor he clinched for the second time in a decade. He was lauded for his decades-long commitment to agricultural transformation, innovation, and education.

In his acceptance speech, Babalola passionately recounted Nigeria’s agricultural glory days and condemned the nation’s current overreliance on imports. “The major cause of our problems in this country is that we do not produce, and yet, we eat,” he asserted, calling for a radical shift back to production-based development with agriculture at its core.

Through ABUAD’s agricultural ecosystem, Babalola has established an integrated value chain hub:

• ABUAD Bio-Diversified Farms
  
• ABUAD Industrial Research Park housing 124 farm-linked industries
  
• Annual Agric Grants supporting farmers with millions of naira
  
• ABUAD Agricultural Enterprise Centre, featuring diversified crop and livestock divisions
  
• AB Foods, producing processed agricultural goods like cassava products, rice, ogi, moringa-based products, and more.

He also shared how the university’s mandatory agriculture curriculum and 50% tuition waiver for agricultural students aim to attract youth into agribusiness. Graduates receive ₦250,000 seed capital to begin their ventures.

Babalola advocated for key systemic reforms to reignite agricultural prosperity:

• Introduce agriculture into the primary and secondary education curriculum
  
• Direct LG funding for grassroots agricultural support
  
• Revive farm settlements across Nigeria
  
• Provide farm inputs and equipment at subsidized rates
  
• Promote cash crop revival (e.g., cocoa, groundnut, rubber, palm oil)
  
• Recognize and honor successful farmers nationally

His commitment has attracted visits and partnerships from key stakeholders, including IITA, U.S. and Japanese embassies, all of whom recognize ABUAD’s model as the largest of its kind within any Nigerian university.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, praised Babalola’s legacy, noting that his agricultural revolution has not only enhanced food security but also inspired a new generation of tech-driven farmers.
Source- The Nation

Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
Aare Afe Babalola’s recognition goes beyond a personal accolade—it serves as a strategic wake-up call for Nigeria’s agricultural and policy ecosystem. His model reflects several actionable insights:

1. University-Agriculture-Industry Integration
   ABUAD’s model demonstrates how universities can drive practical agribusiness by merging research, education, and enterprise. Stakeholders in education, policy, and private investment should replicate this model across states, especially within agriculturally rich regions.

2. Youth-Centered Incentives
   By slashing tuition and providing seed capital, Babalola addresses youth apathy toward agriculture. Public and private sector programs should prioritize similar youth-focused agri-funding and business incubation schemes.

3. Local Government Empowerment
   His call for direct LG funding and resource autonomy reflects the urgent need for bottom-up agricultural development, allowing local councils to tailor interventions for their farming communities.

4. Food Processing and Value Addition
   AB Foods is an example of value chain integration that boosts job creation, reduces post-harvest losses, and promotes local consumption. Agro-processing investments must be scaled with favorable tax and regulatory frameworks.

5. Cash Crop Revival as Export Strategy
   The proposed revitalization of cash crops aligns with Nigeria’s diversification and foreign exchange goals. Regional comparative advantage should guide state-led export crop revitalization programs.

6. Farm Settlements as Smart Rural Agri-Cities
   Reintroducing farm settlements can birth agricultural smart villages—equipped with tech, irrigation, and logistics to boost productivity and rural employment.

Conclusion
Afe Babalola’s achievements are not just laudable—they’re replicable. With deliberate action and multi-stakeholder alignment, Nigeria can move from agriculture in theory to agribusiness in practice.
Stakeholders across academia, government, agritech, finance, and farmer cooperatives must adopt and adapt Babalola’s framework to suit local realities—building a resilient, youth-inclusive, and industrially driven agri-food system.