A former Provost of the College of Agriculture, Akure, Dr Samson Odedina, has called on tertiary institutions in the country to prepare their students for jobs and wealth creation in agriculture after graduation.

Odedina, who is also the immediate past Commissioner for Agriculture in Ogun State, stated this in a public lecture he delivered at the Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State. The lecture was titled ‘Agricultural Development and food security in the 21st Century Nigeria: challenges and prospects.’

According to the guest lecturer, some of the challenges of agricultural development in Nigeria include, infrastructural deficit, land issues, finances, input, technology and lack of value chain coordination.

Suggesting the way forward, Odedina said schools needed to evolve in agricultural education, value chain coordination, agricultural financing, seeking international support for agriculture including projects (Special Agro Processing Zone of African Development Bank), infrastructure, market linkage, centre for large orders,” among others.