By Obiabin Onukwugha
A university Don, Professor Edward Adiele has stated that agriculture can launch Nigeria into a leading world economy if properly harnessed from the rural communities.
According to Adele, any country that is unable to feed itself should not regard its self as developed. He recalled that before the discovery of oil in Nigeria, agriculture was the main stay of the economy.
He also recalled how families trained their children and achieved food sufficiency through agriculture before the advent of oil exploration in the country.
Adiele, who is a Professor of Educational Planning at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Rivers State, made the submission while delivering a Keynote Address titled: “Local Government Autonomy: The Bedrock for Rural Communities Development,” at the grand finale of the first edition of Chief Tony Okocha Academic Excellence Challenge Quiz and Essay Writing contest in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.
The University don pointed out that about 70% of the labour force in Nigeria are employed in the agricultural sector and they live in the rural areas. Adiele also regretted that Nigeria still imports food into the country, including noodles that pose health risks to consumers.
He further posited that local government autonomy is key to driving grassroots development and curbing rural-urban drift.
He said some of the ways local governments can be used to achieve rural community development and drive national economic development include; agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, sensitisation and mobilisation, educational services in communities, and training ground for political participation.
He said: “Full local government autonomy will act as a catalyst for rural community development by encouraging farmers and rural dwellers to engage in agricultural production.
“Agriculture can launch Nigeria into a leading world economy if properly harnessed from rural communities. Any country that is unable to feed itself should not regard its self as developed.
“One thing about agriculture is that it is an end-to-end profit making venture which engineers development from the grassroots.”
Meanwhile, Blessed Child Academy scored 270 points to emerged overall winners of the quiz competition, going home with cash award of N200,000.00.
Praise EL school emerged second position with 255 points, going home with N150,000.00 while Domino Pizza Memorial School came third with 253 points, going home with N100,000.00.
Also, Praise Ogbowoma Okiri, a University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) undergraduate emerged winner of the Essay Writing Category, scoring 98%, with N200,000 and a laptop award.
The first runner up, Nwosu Testimony Chukwurah scored 95% going home with N100,000 and a phone, while the second runner up, Nwafor Desmond Chukwuka, who scored 90% went home with N100,000.00 cash awards.
In his speech, Chief Tony Okocha thanked the participating schools and the organizers for making the event a success and promised to make the competition an annual event.
He also thanked the facilitator, Comrade End well Otonnah, whom he said is the brain behind the competition.