The Dean of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Professor Adejoke Akinyele, has called for the elimination of middle men in the food and agriculture supply value chain.
Professor Akinyele spoke at the 40th year reunion of the UI Agriculture and Forestry Class of 84.
“If we can remove the middlemen from the food production chain, it is going to go a long way in ensuring food security in Nigeria,” she said.
She stated that if the government could make adequate arrangements to get crops that are produced by farmers directly to the consumers, this would help to ensure food security.
The Class of 1984 Graduates of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan are alumni and alumnae who graduated from the faculty 40 years ago.
The old students are now professors, serving and former vice chancellors, captains of industry, current and former executive directors of blue chip companies, multinationals and the Central Bank of Nigeria; renowned scientists, farmers, teachers, and notable public servants.
Activities for the reunion spanned three days and included a thanksgiving service at the Chapel of the Resurrection,
a campus walk and a tour round the university facilities.
There was a courtesy visit to the leadership of the university led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode O. Adebowale.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Peter Olapegba, who received the class delegates, lauded the achievements of the alumni in various fields of human endeavours.
He stated that it was a confirmation that they did well while in school, adding that UI is very proud of their achievements.
Professor Olapegba described the Alumni as the owners of the University and urged them to take back the university.
“Alumni are driving universities in many parts of the world. We are working hard to bring all the alumni into a pool. We are still trying to maintain the tradition of excellence. With your cooperation, we will overcome whatever challenges we have,” he said.
The Chairman of the Reunion Anniversary Committee and former VC, Osun State University, who is also the current Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, African Forest Forum, Nairobi, Kenya, Prof. Labode Popoola, disclosed that the old students found it compelling to look back and give back to the institution that invested so much in them.
A donation of 350 banquet chairs was made to Trenchard Hall.
Earlier, the graduates of the old Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry (now split into two faculties) had been received by the Dean, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Professor Adejoke Akinyele and her counterpart in the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. A. B. Omojola, who was represented by Prof Rasheed Olufemi Awodoyin.
The class of 84 donated two giant multi-function photocopiers to the faculties.
One of the activities was an anniversary lecture, with the theme: “Rebuilding Bridges and Giving Back to Alma Mater” delivered by Prof. Victor Olawale Adetimirin of the Department of Agronomy of the University of Ibadan.
Prof. Adetimirin harped on the need for old students to give back, build bridges, and live a meaningful social life.
There was also a press conference where the leadership of the class of 84 engaged front-line media houses on the rationale behind the reunion, strategies to revamp education, and steps to ensure food security in the country.
The reunion programme ended with a banquet chaired by Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN, where the set of 84 honoured their former lecturers, who were represented by Emeritus Professor Tunde Ikotun and Professor Janice Olawoye.
The set also gave the Achievers award to Professor Abayomi Fasina, the VC of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, on behalf of other achievers.
Two best graduating students, each drawn from the two succeeding faculties, were honoured with plaques and cash prizes.
