FARMING COMMUNITIES NEED A VOICE TO DEVELOP – Prof M.K Yahaya

FBY Kevin Onuegbu

Professor M.K. Yahaya recently said this at the 4th inaugural lecture of the Department of Agriculture Extension, also the 459th of the University of Ibadan, titled ” Voice for the Voiceless; Hungered and Angered”, at the Faculty of Science Lecture Theatre, University of Ibadan.

He made this statement while venting his indignation on the outrageous level of poverty in farming communities which contribute immensely to the growth and development of the nation, yet still largely underdeveloped.

While quoting the words of Bob Marley “A hungry man is an angry man” he further expatiated that the effect of hungered and angered set of people could be devastating; leading to disconcerting and endless conflicts and crises bedeviling the nation in recent times.

Also dwelling on the need for the media to be a voice for the voiceless (Farming Communities) as that would be a fulcrum requisite to pull these communities out of the cold hands of poverty and underdevelopment.

In conclusion, he recommended three strategies to adopt in order to attack the issues besetting farming communities. They include; integration of the new media in the communities, strategic adoption of Grievance Redress for conflict resolution and maximising the potentials of women and youth in agriculture as this will create a better, hunger and anger-free society.

Present in the lecture was a former Head of State Alhaji Abdusalam Abubakar (GCFR), the Etsu Nupe, the Jamb Registrar; Isaaq Oloyede, among other dignitaries.