“Africa is blessed with arable land. We ought not to be unable to feed,” says UI DVC

Oru Leonard 

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration of the University of Ibadan, Professor Peter O. Olapegba, FNPA, has stated that African nations ought not to have problems with feeding their people because Africa is blessed with arable land.

Professor Olapegba spoke on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, while receiving the Deputy Director General, Partnerships for Delivery at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Kenton Dashiell who was on a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor’s office.

The DVC noted that Africa is considered poor because the people are unable to feed well.

He said that inability to feed is a major indicator of poverty, and Africa must not remain poor.

Professor Olapegba, therefore, urged the Deputy Director General to share IITA’s research findings to solve the food problem in Africa.

He solicited more cooperation and sharing of ideas and research findings between IITA and the University of Ibadan

He also advised that rather than having concrete floors, individuals should learn to cultivate small vegetable gardens on their premises.

Dr Dashiell was in UI to deliver a Public Lecture.