Campus News

UNILORIN webinar explores Asian model for African food security

By Isaac Lewu

The Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, in collaboration with the Global Forum for Sustainable Rural Development (GFSRD), convened its first international webinar penultimate Thursday (May 1, 2025).

The webinar, entitled “Towards Attaining Food Security in Africa: Lessons from Asia,” brought together global experts who shared practical strategies, innovations, and collaborative models that have succeeded in Asia, and how these can be adapted to address Africa’s food security challenges.. 

In his welcome speech to participants, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, emphasised the strategic significance of such international dialogues.

Prof. Egbewole, who was represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Oluyemisi B. Fawole, noted that food insecurity continues to be a threat to development on the African continent and urged stakeholders to embrace tested solutions while tailoring them to local contexts. He said that Africa must move beyond theoretical discussions and adopt technology-driven, research-based approaches that reflect the realities of smallholder farmers.

The Vice Chancellor stressed that while Asia’s experience provides a roadmap, the African continent must commit to policy consistency, stakeholder collaboration, and youth-driven agricultural innovation.

 He commended the organisers, especially the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, for spearheading this impactful initiative and reaffirmed the readiness of the University of Ilorin to lead conversations on sustainable agriculture through research and partnerships. “We are not just here to learn; we are here to act,” he said.

In her remarks, the Coordinator of the event and Head of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Dr Kemi F. Omotosho, stated that the webinar marked a turning point in the Department’s quest to internationalise its academic activities. She highlighted the urgency of transforming Africa’s agricultural systems and called for a rethinking of extension services, farmer support systems, and capacity-building for rural women and youths. She added that “Asia has shown that transformation is possible. Now it’s our turn.”

Dr  Omotosho said that UNILORIN is well-positioned to contribute to Africa’s food systems transformation through knowledge exchange and development research.

The Head of the Department thanked the international speakers for honouring the invitation and encouraged students and academics to draw from the wisdom shared during the sessions.

 She also noted the Department’s ongoing collaborations with local and international agencies aimed at expanding outreach and knowledge impact.

Delivering the first keynote address, Prof. Manas Mohan Adhikary, a former Vice Chancellor of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, India, reflected on India’s Green Revolution and the role of policy-driven agricultural reforms in reducing hunger. He emphasised the need for Africa to invest in farmer education, input subsidies, and post-harvest infrastructure. According to him, technology and political will were key ingredients in transforming Asia’s food systems.

Prof. Adhikary warned that while mechanisation and innovation are critical, they must be accessible to rural farmers to avoid widening inequality. He called on African governments to make targeted investments in irrigation, seed research, and rural cooperatives.He added that the Asian experience is not perfect, but it offers adaptable lessons that Africa can refine.

The second speaker, Dr Rajendra Uperty of Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture, shared insights into community-based resource management and climate-smart agriculture. He explained how Nepal’s hilly terrains presented a unique challenge that was overcome through localised extension practices and farmer cooperatives. “Top-down approaches fail in rural agriculture. What worked for us was listening to the farmers,” he said.

Dr Uperty emphasised the importance of context-driven policies and called on African nations to engage rural communities as partners in development. He also advocated for gender-sensitive policies that empower women as key food producers, especially in subsistence farming settings across Africa.

On his part, Dr Mukhisdahan Basu, a UN International Consultant on Agriculture in Africa, highlighted the similarities between African and Asian rural challenges, including limited access to capital, weak value chains, and poor rural infrastructure. He urged African countries to leverage digital tools and public-private partnerships in agriculture. According to him, “Food security is not just a farming issue,it is a national security issue.”

Dr Basu explained that Africa’s youthful population can be an asset if properly trained and incentivised to view agriculture as a viable business. He also called for cross-continental collaboration between universities to share data, conduct joint research, and develop scalable models for rural development.

From Indonesia, Dr Maria Endarwati of the National Institute of Technology, Malang, presented on urban-rural integration in agricultural planning. She explained how Indonesia’s food security policy incorporated urban agriculture, technology incubation hubs, and policy incentives for food producers in peri-urban areas. “Planning must be inclusive, and the food chain must begin with environmental sustainability,” she asserted.

Dr Endarwati suggested that African countries develop national food charters that align with local government policies, stressing that consistency and inclusiveness will determine the success of food security programmes. She encouraged African academics to initiate pilot models within university farms and engage local communities.

Concluding the keynote session, Dr Prem Adheesh Lekhi, a Governing Council member of the Unity of Nations Action for Climate Change Council (Malaysia), explored the link between climate resilience and food security. He stated that unpredictable weather patterns, floods, and droughts were reversing gains in food productivity. “Asia had to confront climate change early. Africa must do the same,” he warned.

Dr Lekhi recommended an integrated food and climate resilience policy framework for Africa, urging universities to develop climate-smart curricula and foster innovation in sustainable farming technologies. “The time for reactive policies is over; we must prepare, not just repair,” he said.

The webinar was moderated by Dr  Sidiqat A. Aderinoye-Abdulwahab of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin, who skillfully steered the session with robust engagement from speakers and participants. She emphasised that knowledge sharing across continents is crucial to addressing shared global challenges.

Also present at the webinar were the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), University of Ilorin, Prof. Taibat  Bakare-Odunola; the Dean of Engineering and Technology, Prof. Jamiu Kolawole Odusote; Prof. Israel Ogunlade of the Department of Agricultural & Rural Development, lecturers of the faculty, and students of various cadres.