- October 3, 2025
- Posted by: itmanager
- Category: Uncategorized
…“Without agriculture, there can be no true independence, no sustainable development, and no enduring prosperity.”
The Vice-Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Prof. E. Smaranda Olarinde, FCArb, FCAI, has stressed that Nigeria’s true economic freedom lies in agriculture.
Prof. Olarinde, who is also a farmer and passionate agriculture enthusiast, gave this charge on Thursday, October 2, 2025, while addressing participants at the Opening Ceremony of the 2025 Afe Babalola Agricultural Expo (ABAEX), held at the Alfa Belgore Hall, ABUAD.
In her remarks, she praised the vision and lifelong commitment of the University’s Founder and Chancellor, Aare Afe Emmanuel Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN, describing ABAEX as a bold and strategic intervention for food security, farmer empowerment, and sustainable development. According to her, agriculture is not merely an occupation but the bedrock of national survival. “Indeed, without agriculture, there can be no true independence, no sustainable development, and no enduring prosperity,” she declared.
The keynote address delivered by Prof. Stephen Adeusi, spoke on the theme: “Harnessing the Power of Cooperatives for Sustainable Agricultural Development.” He highlighted the importance of farmer cooperatives in mobilising resources, sharing risks, and unlocking greater value in the agricultural sector. He also called on government, private sector, and civil society to provide enabling policies, credit facilities, and infrastructure, while recognizing cooperatives as true partners in development.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Abiodun Ojo, thanked the Founder for his unrelenting support since ABAEX began in 2015. He revealed that between 2015 and 2025, Aare Afe Babalola’s personal investment in Ekiti farmers and youths has exceeded ₦125 million (over $238,000).
This year’s Expo will also climax with a grand award ceremony on Saturday, October 4, 2025, where five farmers from each of the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State will receive cash awards, with the overall best farmer smiling home with ₦2 million. In addition, 32 youths (two per LGA) will be empowered under the ABAEX Youth Empowerment Scheme, which has grown significantly from 120 applicants at inception in 2015 to 370 applicants in 2025.
The opening ceremony was brightened up with cultural performances, interactive sessions, with the presence of ABUAD’s principal officers, traditional rulers, policymakers, farmer cooperatives, development partners, and students within and outside the University community.