A distinguished Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry and the Dean of Agricultural Biochemistry and Renewable Resources, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Prof. Daniel Babatunde Oke has urged governments in developing nations to use the instrument of law in limiting the number of children that a couple should have in order to curb the disturbing population explosion being witnessed in under-developed and developing countries. He stated further that this would go a long way to solve the problems of food insecurity in Sub-Sahara Africa and Asia.
Prof. Oke made this call while delivering the 88th Inaugural Lecture of Olabisi Onabanjo University on Tuesday, 14th May, 2019 at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Lecture Theatre, Olabisi Onabanjo University Main Campus, Ago-Iwoye.
The Lecture entitled “IN VITRO AND VIVO SYNC: THE SYNERGY THAT ACTIVATES THE WORLD” had the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde presiding over the event. The nutritional specialist advised States and Federal Government to establish centres where requisite equipment would be installed for in-depth chemical and biochemical assays of feedstuffs and food resources in order to have an uninhibited knowledge of their nutrient contents.
He further suggested that government should be directly involved in food production by providing the necessary incentives and production inputs to Agriculture graduates in order to produce food abundantly as part of the deliberate efforts to eliminate food insecurity.
To encourage uninterrupted animal protein production in form of eggs, meat, and milk, Professor Oke charged governments to buy livestock and livestock products from farmers and then sell to consumers at affordable prices. According to him, this would ensure raising future generations with high intelligent quotient and good health.
The distinguished don equally enjoined the three tiers of government to allocate a minimum of 10-15% of their budgets to the agricultural sector so that there would be enough food to feed the increasing population. He added that increased budgeting allocation to the agricultural sector would reduce the large number of unemployed youth because this sector was globally known as the largest employer of labour.
The inaugural lecture had in attendance distinguished scholars, top government functionaries, eminent personalities, staff and students.
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