Those Were The Words Of Mr. Adeyemi Adebayo, Agriculture Enthusiast, And One Of The Expert-Panellists At Agroween ’25 Food, Agriculture And Innovation Festival Which Was Held On Tuesday, November 25, 2025 At The Faculty Of Social Sciences Lecture Theatre, University Of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.
According To Him, All First-Class Graduates Recorded In Each University Should Create A Forest By Sowing A Tree Plant Each In Their Respective Universities. This Symbolic Act Could Grow Into A Powerful Movement Against Food Insecurity, While Inspiring A Culture Of Agriculture Across Campuses.
With The Theme, Sowing Seeds Of Innovation, Agroween ’25 Was Organised By The Department Of Social Work, Faculty Of Social Sciences, UNILAG In Collaboration With Intergenerational Rescue Foundation (IRF) Inc. A Major Feature Of The Event Was The Panel Session Which Included Experts And Strategists Such As Mr. Adeyemi Adebayo; Mr. Abiodun Oladapo (Founder Of Comtrade Group); Dr. Rosulo Olamiji (Dean, Yaba College Of Technology (Yabatech) School Of Agriculture, And Prof. Desmond Majekodunmi (An Environmental Activist, And Founder, LUFASI Nature Park).
A Recurring Recommendation Among The Panellists Was The Need For The Academia To Produce And Share Research With Those Who Can Transform It Into Real-World Solutions. They Stressed The Importance Of Research Aimed At Tackling Food Wastages And Other Issues Affecting Agricultural Practitioners In The Country; As Well As The Need For Universities To Plant Fruit-Yielding Plants Around Their Campuses In Order The Solve The Hunger Problem In The Land.
Beyond Agriculture: Social Work Meets Food Security
In His Address As Host Of The Event, The Head, Department Of Social Work, Prof. Samuel Adejoh, Explained That Agroween ’25 Aimed At Challenging The Narrative That Food Security Was The Business Of Only The Faculty Of Agriculture. “We Are Here To Prove That While Agriculture Plants The Seed, It Is Social Work That Ensures The Harvest Reaches The Table Of The Widow, The Orphan, And The Underserved… It Aligns With The Core Mandate Of Our Profession: Social Justice.”
Prof. Adejoh Pointed Out That It Was Necessary To Incorporate Innovation Into Agriculture Due To Rising Food Inflation And Economic Shocks. His Words, “We Need Innovation. We Need Systems That Don’t Just Feed People For A Day But Empower Them For A Lifetime. This Event Is Designed To Sensitize And Equip Our Students And Staff With The Practical Tools To Build Those Systems.”
Other Highlights Of The Event Were A Brief Speech From The Dean Of The Faculty Of Social Sciences, Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, Ably Represented By Prof. Ferdinard Ottoh Of The Department Of Political Science; A Keynote Address By Prof. Vide Adedayo Of The Department Of Geography; A Composting Training Session Handled By Mrs. Abimbola Aghahowa; Presentations By Agroween Chapters In Several Universities In The South-West And Secondary Schools; Agro-Allied Exhibitions And Presentation Of Recognition Awards.
The Keynote Address Focused On Several Issues Ranging From The Food Security Situation And Challenges In Nigeria; Resources Available For Sowing Seed Of Innovation, As Well As Their Limitations And The Implications Of ‘Sowing Seeds Of Innovation’ To Nigeria’s Future.
The Young Ones Were Not Left Out. Students From Divine Accurate International School, God’s Merit Comprehensive College, Lagos State Model Senior College, Yaba College Of Technology (Yabatech) Secondary School, Akoka Junior High School And Iganmu Senior High School Made Presentations On The Central Theme. At The End Of The Presentations, Yabatech Secondary School, Lagos State Model Senior Model College And God’s Merit Comprehensive College Took 1st, 2nd And 3rd Positions Respectively.
Several Universities Had Representatives Drawn From Federal University Of Agricutlture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB); Lagos State University (LASU) School Of Agriculture, Lagos State University Of Education (LASUED), Lagos State University Of Science And Technology (LASUSTECH), University Of Lagos, And Yabatech School Of Agriculture, With Some Of Them Showing Off Some Of Their Produce And Innovations. LASU School Of Agriculture Smiled Home With The First Prize With Its Products: Agrinova Paste, Biopesticide And Savaki Cookies (Made From Cassava Flour); Yabatech School Of Agriculture Came In Closely In Second Place With Its Biopesticide Product And Other Food Produce, While LASUSTECH Came In Third With Its Bean Flour Product, Aimed At Turning Beans Into Gold.
Recognition Awards Were Presented To The Following Individuals For Their Contribution To Agriculture In The Country: Prof. Majekodunmi, Prof. Vide Adedayo, Former President Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Represented By Mr. Yemi Shodimu, And Commissioner For Information And Civic Orientation, Osun State, And Chief Executive Officer Of MIF Farms Ltd., Mrs. Funke Egbemode.
The Full-Day Event Had Members Of Academia, And Stakeholders From The Agriculture Industry In Attendance.
