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VC lauds UNN faculty of Agriculture,  for maintaining its Agro-science Journal publications

By Agency Reporter

Prof Charles Igwe, the Vice-chanacellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) has commended the Faculty of Agriculture of the university for maintaining the yearly publication of Agro-science Journal, its faculty journal.

Igwe gave the commendation in Nsukka on Saturday in an occasion to  launch,  Volume 20, Number 4 edition of the journal, to mark the journal's 20 years anniversary.

He said the journal had helped to assuage the yearnings of researchers in the areas of agriculture, forestry and allied disciplines across  Africa in dissemination  of research work that addressed important problems in agriculture.

"I congratulate  the faculty for this uncommon feat,  doggedness and unfaltering focus of the past and present administration of the faculty.

"I salute in a  especial way past and present editorial board members of the journal for their commitment in  improving quality of the journal yearly.

"Special recognition to Prof G. Igboeli,  the Pioneer Editor-in-chief. his successor Prof M. Obi and the Present Editor-in-chief Prof Micheal Uguru for their sacrifices" he said.

According to VC,  Uguru since assumption of office had remained dedicated in seeing to smooth progression of Agro-science journal as well as enhancing the quality of all the publications.

Igwe who was a former Dean,  Faculty of Agriculture in UNN said the theme of the 20th anniversary "Post COVID-19 African Economy Rescue with Modern Agriculture Technologies" was apt in the face of the 'new normal' in the era of COVID-19.

"Africa agriculture must conform to the global trending practice of pursuit in sustainability in order to remain relevant and effective in the quest for food security for the ever-rising human population in Africa.

"For Africa to overcome challenges of  COVID-19 , we must embrace the state-of-the-art technologies in agriculture," he said.

In a remark Ugwuru said the journal had been a reliable medium for agriculture technology transfer and sharing among stakeholders.

"Major stakeholders comprising scientists and practitioners have benefitted from the high quality yearly publications of Agro-science journal of the faculty.

"The fact that the journal has maintained uninterrupted publications is a proof of its success in remaining true to the original vision of founding fathers," he said.

The editor-in-chief said that,  the theme of this year's anniversary was topical as COVID-19 pandemic had caused discernible distortion on the global food supply chains.

"Topics published in this edition have thrown more light on the degree of distortion created by the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on countries that practice low-input agriculture," he said.

Speaking, Mr Matthew Idu, the  Commissioner for Agriculture in Enugu State who was the Chairman of the occasion, expressed appreciation to the faculty for finding him worthy to chair the event.

Idu who graduated from the  faculty said he would continue to do his best to remain a good ambassador of UNN wherever he found himself.

"I am humbled and overwhelmed to be called upon to chair this epoch making event,  launching of the Volume 20 Number 4 of  Agro-science journal," he said.

He noted that, UNN faculty of agriculture had contributed immensely to leaning and national development.

"The present VC of UNN (Igwe) who was former dean of the faculty is an eloquent testimony that the faculty has dedicated staff and students as well as erudite professors," he said.

In their separate keynote speech Prof Maduebibisi Iwe the Vice-chancellor of Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State  represented by Prof Elechi Asawalawu the Deputy Vice-chancellor of the university and Prof Lilian Salami, the Vice-chancellor, University of Benin, Edo State  represented by Dr Simon Onoja, of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics UNN.

They said to overcome the challenges created by COVID-19 especially in  food shortage  governments in Africa should increase budgetary allocation to agricultural sector as well as provide modern agriculture equipment and loans to farmers.

They however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders in Africa for putting adequate  measures  in place to contain and prevent the spread of the virus in the continent.

"Opinion in some quarters in the western world says,  dead bodies will liter the streets of Africa because of COVID-19 pandemic  but leaders in Africa proved them wrong," they said.

Earlier, Prof Augustine Ani, the Dean of Faculty of Agriculture UNN  said  that,  agricultural remains the bedrock and backbone of any country's economy as it provides food,  water and shelter for citizens.

"Academic journals like Agro-science journal is the lifeblood of researchers in any academic discipline.

"I  commend editorial board of the journal led by Prof Uguru on this 20th anniversary, for a job well done, their sacrifices as well as their commitments.

"It's my wish that in no distant time the journal will be indexed in the Scopus Database,  which will bring the faculty into global recognition and limelight," he said.

Ani said the theme of  the event was pertinent,  considering the challenges that had confronted agriculture and environment in today's world driven by technology but redefined by COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlight of the occasion was launching of Volume 20, Number 4 of Agro-science Journal.
/NAN/