My name is FALEGAN MICHAEL, I’m a graduate of EKSU, Dept of A.P.H, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences.
The status and position of our country made me to sit, think and see this country as nothing but a prodigal son.
Oil is not our forte in Nigeria, though it’s a blessing but we have misused the blessing by transforming it to a curse in this nation and this has turn the country to a prodigal Son.
This oil was discovered in 1956 at “Oloibiri” in the Niger- Delta by shell B-P which was sole concessionaire. But even before this discovery, Nigeria has always been the first in the international export market when it comes to oil palm, cotton, cocoa, groundnut, rubber. Then, there was tranquillity, and everyone was in a state on intense euphoria.
But now, the boom of oil has led to the doom of agriculture which is even circumscribing so many students from going into such profession and those in the field of study are already feeling inferior when comparing themselves to students studying “Medicine, Law, Engineering, thinking of activities going on in the oil industry.
I don’t know why this so called Nigeria recognizes those in medical line more than others. But I can see that the control center of the central nervous system located in the skull of all the leaders in this country is working against their perception, cognition, attention and action. Because if not, can’t they think and get this into their skull that students in the field of agriculture, particularly.
ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND HEALTH are working hard to prevent Zoonotic disease (disease that can be transmitted from animals to human). Also, without right nutrition (food), no doctors treatment can fix ones health and with the appropriate food, except for few exceptions, no doctor is needed which reveal to us that food is central and should be treated as such.
Majority of the epidemic experienced in Africa is occasioned by malnutrition and lack of basic social amenities. But hierarchically, agriculture is recognized as the least in the country while Oil is set as the priority.
Also, constructing high level of corruption, sending so many graduate (fresh and stale) to swim in a pool and represent Nigeria in that same pool of unemployment.
Unfortunately, this country will derail eventually if we fail to go back into agriculture because we’ve neglected the sector totally because of oil. Let us look at Malaysia, they came to Nigeria and beg for oil palms free but four years later, they came back and say we don’t want you to give us the oil palms free again, we will pay for them.
But today, this same oil palms which we ignored in NIFOR, OKITIKPUKPA and other places are now recompensing trillions of dollars for Malaysia. Diverse country who do not produce oil are earning more money from oil palm than Nigeria is earning from oil and gas.
Looking at Nigeria as a prodigal son, there is a decline in value, which is leading to disastrous event of great significance in the economy. Temptation want to link me up to join Professor Tam David West in prayer that all oil wells in Nigeria to dry up so that Nigerians will come back to their senses.
The prodigal son, when he came to his sense and went back to his father, was forgiven and his sonship was restored. The reservations of his(prodigal son) brother not withstanding.
Once Nigeria gets her senses back intact, we will properly embrace Agriculture and our ‘giant of Africa’ title will be justified’. so Nigeria’s glory will come back even admist fierce opposition if and when we genuinely focus on agriculture.
Thank you.
FALEGAN MICHAEL OMOTAYO
08062295425