Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s excessive reliance on imported goods and the lack of commitment to agriculture. He warned that if urgent action is not taken to address this troubling trend, the country may one day find itself importing even locally significant items like palm wine from countries such as China.
The Governor issued this warning over the weekend while delivering a pre-convocation lecture at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU). He called for deliberate and large-scale investments in agriculture as a means of revitalizing Nigeria’s struggling economy.
Uzodinma lamented that despite Nigeria’s vast population and abundant arable land, the nation is still grappling with challenges in feeding its citizens and creating employment opportunities for its youth. He emphasized that a country incapable of feeding itself cannot truly claim to be sovereign.
“Agriculture remains the foundation for national development and security,” he stated, noting that Nigeria’s neglect of the agricultural sector began with the discovery of crude oil.
The Governor criticized the country’s transition from agriculture as its economic mainstay during the pre-independence era to a dependence on oil revenues. “We adopted petro-dollar and abandoned agri-dollar,” he remarked, describing crude oil as a volatile commodity that quickly supplanted agriculture as Nigeria’s primary source of foreign exchange.
Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Professor Victor Nwachukwu, Uzodinma urged his fellow governors to emulate the late Dr. Michael Okpara’s green revolution, which focused on agricultural expansion and productivity. He advocated for a return to the era when agriculture significantly contributed to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Accompanied by the Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, and other senior government officials, Uzodinma challenged regional organizations such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the South East Economic Development Fund to mobilize resources for research into modern and efficient food production systems across Igbo land.
“I believe every Igbo man would want to see the return of the ehi Igbo (local cows) and improved, fast-growing species of okuko Igbo (local chickens) and ewu Igbo (local goats), which are now nearing extinction. And what about our prized raffia palm trees (ngwo) that produce the finest palm wine? If we fail to act, we may one day find ourselves importing palm wine and ugba (a local delicacy) from China,” Uzodinma warned.
The Governor also criticized universities of agriculture for focusing primarily on theoretical teachings instead of practical farming. He challenged lecturers in these institutions to lead by example. “How many of you eat bananas and plantains harvested from your farms?” he asked.
Uzodinma called on agricultural universities to prioritize research and innovation, inventing equipment tailored to the needs of Nigerian farmers and training them in advanced farming techniques. He stressed that these institutions must mirror their counterparts in developed nations by developing innovative technologies to improve agricultural productivity.
He also advocated the establishment of agro-processing factories across the country to process raw farm produce locally, rather than exporting raw materials and importing finished products at exorbitant prices. For instance, he questioned the economic sense of exporting cocoa to Europe only to re-import cocoa products at higher costs.
Uzodinma emphasized that a nation that achieves success in agriculture lays the foundation for rapid national development. He identified numerous benefits of agricultural progress, including food security, rural employment, poverty alleviation, rural and industrial development, social stability, and increased trade and foreign exchange earnings.
Drawing comparisons with other nations, Uzodinma cited Malaysia’s transformation into the world’s leading producer and exporter of palm oil. He recalled how Malaysia once sourced palm fruits from Nigeria but now boasts agriculture as a sector contributing 8% to its GDP and employing 10% of its workforce.
He further pointed out the resilience of Ukraine, which despite being at war for nearly three years, has maintained its position as the world’s top exporter of wheat. Meanwhile, Nigeria, despite being at peace, is still struggling to achieve food sufficiency. Uzodinma described this situation as shameful and called for immediate action to reverse the trend.
The Governor stressed the central role of agriculture in national development, citing its ability to ensure economic stability, environmental sustainability, and long-term growth.
