In a rare gesture towards promoting academic excellence, a lecturer at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Sidiqat Aderinoye-Abdulwahab has endowed N1.5 million prize for the best male and female students of agriculture in the institution.
Aderinoye-Abdulwahab teacher at the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development of the institution, made the endowment during the 289th Inaugural Lecture she delivered on Thursday, saying that the endowment was her way of giving back to the society.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the lecture delivered had as its theme: “Sustainable, Smart and Safe Pastoralism in Nigeria.”
“As a way of giving back to the society and encouraging future generations of womenfolk, I pledge N750,000 for the next ten years to the best male graduating student.
“This is in honour of my husband for his unwavering spirit, unflinching support and overwhelming dedication towards my success,” she said.
The don also donated N750,000 to the best graduating female student in agriculture in memory of Hajiya Fauziyah Ali for directing her towards the acquisition of a PhD that culminated her achievement.
Aderinoye-Abdulwahab advised the Ministry of Livestock Development to promote safe pastoralism by educating and enlightening pastoralists as well as create conflict mediation units that will serve the need of pastoralists.
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She urged policy makers to formulate and implement relevant pastoral policies that would enhance the implementation of existing grazing reserves and ranching.
The expert said that the practice of herding and grazing ruminant animals has a long and varied history and could be traced to Stone Age period.
“The story of Cain and Abel’s conflict is proof that farmer/herdsmen conflict and altercations have a history rooted in ancient period.
“It serves as a timeless metaphor for struggles between different livelihoods, cultures and identities. Correspondingly, today’s clashes between farmers and herders stem from deeper tensions of competition for scarce resources,” she said.
Aderinoye-Abdulwahab explained that migration could occur either because the environmental quality of a habitat has become unliveable or migrant’s economic outcome was better in areas with greater resource availability.
“One basic feature of herdsmen is migration but the effects of migration on host communities’ farms includes pressure on land, cultural and social differences, over population and social disorganisation, which are conflict triggers.
The expert said that the complex interplay of livelihood, environmental and social insecurity challenges facing pastoralism in Nigeria requires a multifaceted solution.
“As we strive for an aggregation of sustainable, smart and safe pastoralism in Nigeria, I would like to leave us with the words of our creator, who reminds us thus:
“And He created the cattle for you; in them is warmth and numerous benefits and from them you eat,” she quoted. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
NAN
