By Abbas Nazil
Nigeria’s long-term economic resilience and job creation depend on transforming agriculture into a coordinated, system-driven engine of employment rather than fearing automation, according to banker Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
He made the call at the 33rd Convocation Lecture of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, where he argued that agriculture holds the greatest potential to deliver inclusive growth, food security and large-scale work opportunities for the country’s growing youthful population.
Speaking on the theme of agriculture as the future of work and universities as catalysts for change, Aig-Imoukhuede urged policymakers, academic institutions and graduates to abandon narrow perceptions of farming and instead embrace agriculture as a modern, innovation-driven sector capable of national transformation.
He explained that while global conversations increasingly focus on artificial intelligence and automation, Africa’s more urgent challenge remains the creation of sustainable and productive jobs, noting that agriculture uniquely cuts across science, engineering, finance, logistics, technology, regulation and trade.
According to him, no other sector matches agriculture’s capacity to generate employment across income levels and geographic divides while strengthening national resilience and ensuring food security.
Drawing from historical and global examples such as the biblical account of Joseph in Egypt and Brazil’s agricultural reforms, he said real transformation only occurs when agriculture is treated as an integrated system rather than fragmented policies and isolated interventions.
Turning attention to Nigeria, the banker observed that the country’s persistent food importation problem is not due to a lack of resources or ideas but weak coordination and governance across the agricultural value chain.
He described Nigeria’s agricultural challenge as one of “unfinished architecture,” stressing that the nation possesses vast arable land, human capital and a strong domestic market capable of supporting large-scale agricultural success if properly organised.
Aig-Imoukhuede encouraged graduating students to view agriculture as a technology-enabled and value-chain-focused career space, noting that many of the most promising employment opportunities lie beyond direct farming in areas such as storage, processing, logistics, branding, quality control and export services.
He warned against relying solely on technology without building strong institutions, adding that sustainable progress requires patient investment, credible systems, consistent leadership and effective governance structures.
The banker further challenged young Nigerians to cultivate adaptability, embrace lifelong learning and take responsibility for building functional systems that can drive national development.
He concluded by reminding the graduates that Nigeria’s future will be shaped by individuals who actively construct solutions rather than merely observe challenges, urging them to become innovators and system builders within the agricultural sector and beyond.