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FOOD SUFFICIENCY, VALIDATION AND VINDICATION OF Prof Godfrey Nzamujo.
It has been said many times that if the motives of our Constitution and the founding Practitioners of our democracy were of the highest standards, it must be said that their grasp of political realities have NOT as yet failed. On this score, I welcome the personal intervention of President Bola Ahmed TINUBU with the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development and the initiative of Daily Trust to convoke “Dialogue on Food Insecurity in Nigeria”.
Of all the debates since the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development, it was to the invitation of Professor (Rev) Godfrey Nzamujo, founder and director general of Songhai Farm in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, to the Daily Trust Dialogue on “How Nigeria can solve Food Insecurity” that I can say is the most realistic, solidly based practical experience of the conveners. It is one of the rarest things exuded by living conscience, the most beautiful thing that intellectual freedom flourishes, and the best thing that yields erasing a margin of previous errors in our governance.
For any body to ignore the writings on the wall, taking into account the happenings in agricultural sector in Nigeria is like the proverbial Ostrich.
The future with what to do with this admission of our misplaced pride of ignoring our National development experiences in the vain expectations that this sector would never seize to be irrelevant is a worthy admission of our misplaced priority.
Sometimes in 2003, I was privileged to visit Songhai Farms in Porto Novo, Republic of Benin where I had the privilege of meeting and interacting with Prof Godfrey. During my short stay, we had an open and frank discussion from where I learnt that his initial decision was to create his farm in Cross Rivers State.
He approached Cross Rivers State government at the time when Navy Captain Eben Ibim Princewill was Military Governor of Cross River State between 1986 and December 1989, during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. But, Cross Rivers state government never seriously gave his idea worthy consideration hence, turned to Benin Republic who, not only welcomed the idea, BUT granted him Diplomatic privileges, in line with international diplomatic practises accorded to international institutions like FAO etc.
His research was equally assisted by countries like Japan who invested financially and materially in the development programs. His idea and efforts at situating the farming institution in Nigeria was denied the required support of the Cross Rivers State government who could not recognize the values and therefore the credibility of his research which is now being celebrated by our present day “Knowledge-based Society”.
We always find many “Followers” of Change, but very FEW true “Believers”. This effort of the Daily Trust of bringing Prof Godfrey to the round table to discuss the future of food security for Nigeria is a worthy cause and commendable.
My three days working visit to SONGHAI was an eye opener. It was there I discovered that every farm produce is useful and nothing can be wasted. I learnt that water hyacinth is a purifier and that human waste could be collected, incubated and the ensuing gas release to generate power, fire and heat. So also Cow dung could serve to trap flies on a net cover of fish pond in order for the fly lava to drop into the pond as feeds. I also discovered that his donors monitored his research efforts via Satellite for improved quality and quantity. It was a wonderful experience for me and my team who went to learn first hand agric innovations and techniques.
Prof. Godfrey was very clear headed and a patriotic Nigerian. His thoughts were always about food security for Africa and Nigeria in particular. As I was driving into Katsina during the time of Governor Ibrahim Shema, I was thrilled to see a bill board of Songhai by the road. For I knew that states like Anambra, Imo, Delta were all patronising Songhai Farms , including some of the educational institutions in the SE, SS and SW mostly.
We are beginning to see that agricultural sector must invariably be treated as a matter of reality whose importance needs no further substantiation and justification. It has remained and proven to be a very VIABLE precondition to peaceful co-existence and National development.
But why expect remorse, contrition, and self-reflection from our government in the way of denying recognition to Prof. earlier? We’re now talking about democratic culture with people who believe in safe spaces and civility, without losing their privilege to be hopeful in public service. Our current circumstances is a reflection of our past decision. Now, perhaps we’ll like to use this as an opportunity to reflect on our past decision/experience to improve our lots in terms of securing a better future.
27th January 2025
