Nigeria university leaders push agriculture investment and digital skills

Professor Olusola Babatunde Kehinde, Vice‑Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said agricultural colleges are vital for food security, job creation and economic diversification. Speaking at the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week in Abuja, he urged greater investment and collaboration, highlighting the university’s work on drought‑resistant crops, improved irrigation and soil‑conservation technologies that have lifted yields by 25‑40 % in pilot farms.

Professor Kayode Adebowale, Vice‑Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, addressed final‑year students at a soft‑skills training programme, stressing that digital and software proficiency is now essential for employability. He called for competence in tools such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Power BI and project‑management platforms, arguing that academic knowledge alone is insufficient in the fourth industrial revolution.

Both leaders highlighted the need for universities to act as innovation hubs that equip graduates with practical skills to meet Nigeria’s agricultural and technological challenges.