A don, Prof. Edwin Momoh, has called for collaboration between government and universities to tackle the effects of climate change and food insecurity bedevilling Africa.
Momoh, a Professor of Crop Science, made the call on Thursday while speaking at the third series of Distinguished Public Lecture of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State.
The lecture was entitled: “Climate Change and Food Security In Africa: Impacts on Agriculture, Access and Adaptation.”
Momoh, who was the guest lecturer, said that climate change and its impacts had resulted in food insecurity in Africa and the world at large.
According to him, projecting future climate conditions and their implications for food security are critical for developing effective adaptation and mitigate strategies across Africa.
Momoh, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Earnest Bai Karama University, Sierra Leone, identified the most widely-used analytical tools for assessing future food security under climate change as the International Food Policy Research Institutes (IFPRI).
He noted that in spite of projected productivity gains for some staple crops, food security challenges were expected to persist due to some factors.
“Seas are rising, floods increasing, climate are changing, and if we don’t take actions, the world is going to be in serious trouble because we will witness lots of insecurities around us, not just food insecurity.
“Our universities are meant to be solving problems and if we can not solve problems, then we cease to be universities.
“Universities should be solutions to various societal problems, especially when we see situations around us causing unrests.
“Our students and young minds should be taught how to develop and use smart technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) in solving varieties of problems.
“Governments are policy makers who make policies that can bring solutions to our problems.
“If both government and universities collaborate, then we will be able to solve the problems of climate change and food insecurities which have become serious crises in Africa,” Momoh said.
In his remarks, OAUSTECH’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, noted that government had not been making use of several researches being conducted by the universities, most of which, he said, financed by the government itself.
Ologunorisa urged government to always ensure the implementation of recommendations from several researches to solve the myriads of problems confronting the society.
“I commend our guest lecturer for his beautiful insight. Government must rise up to ensure that all researches made by universities and research institutes are vetted and implemented accordingly for societal problems mitigation,” Ologunorisa said.
NAN reports that highlight of the event was the award of recognition given to Momoh, as scholars, students, traditional rulers and members of the public graced the occasion,(NAN)