Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture.
The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh has solicited the use of communication tools in the dissemination of good agricultural initiatives.
The minister, who spoke at the yearly general meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) held in Ibadan with the theme: “Networking for National Economy of Self-reliancethe Synergy of Agriculture and Communication”, stressed the need for dissemination of information on modern ways of farming even in the most remote part of the country.
The NIPR’s role in the effective extension delivery service, he said, is essential with the recent moves by federal government to develop the vast potential of the agricultural resources.
As stated by him, NIPR is also essential in dissemination of prime information on policy and programme to key stakeholders by reaching out to the grassroots, the tertiary institutions, farmers at all levels, farm tool manufacturers and international interest groups.
These organizations, he stated must be accepted as a key responsibility of communication sector.
Ogbeh, who was represented by Dr. Doyin Awe, a director in the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that in order to encourage the growth of certain crops in Nigeria, the federal government have developed a transparent mechanism of importation of improved grass seeds through due procurement.
“With all the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari to invest on Agriculture as a way of diverting the economy from oil to Agriculture, it is also conscious of the fact that a 4 year tenure would not be enough to achieve a 360 degree turn around of economy,” he stated.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, he said, had taken a bold step of designing a four-year road map for quick wins.
The agenda, the minister stressed, focuses on the private sector driven agricultural activities at all levels and facts for both agro-export and food security.
He therefore urged NIPR to take interest in building supportive linkages and networks by linking our towns by publishing research results for various agro-allied institutes and schools.
In his presentation, the Deanof Basic clinical sciences Afe Babalola University, Dr Laofe Ogundipe challenged NIPR to urgently embark on communication campaigns extolling the virtues of agriculture for our country to achieve desired socio-economic development goals.
As stated by him, Germany used allotment gardens to start their industrial revolution and banish hunger and poverty.
“The people took to allotment gardens following strategic communication of need to do so.
“Nigeria can attain similar development if we use communication to embrace agriculture.
“This is the synergy that will lead to development of our economy". He added.
The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, who represented the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, recognised the role of NIPR as strategic in every country that wants to succeed and encouraged them to work closely with both federal government and states to achieve economic and policy best practice.
The event ended with the election of new leaders of the institute with Dr Rotimi Oladele emerging as President for a second term.
Guardian