Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State, on Wednesday, 17th June, 2026, hosted the 3rd Candida Adenike Afodu Annual Lecture in Agriculture/Horticulture, where renowned horticulturist and Professor of Horticulture, Prof. Isaac O. Aiyelaagbe, charged Nigerians to move beyond discussions on food security to deliberate actions that would guarantee sustainable food production and national development.

Delivering the lecture titled "Food Security: Walking the Talk", Prof. Aiyelaagbe stressed that while food security has remained a recurring subject in national discourse, the time has come for governments, institutions, communities, and individuals to translate policies into practical interventions that ensure every Nigerian has access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food.

The Professor described food security as a condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for an active and healthy life. He noted that the concept goes beyond food availability to include accessibility, affordability, utilization, and stability.

According to him, Nigeria possesses abundant agricultural resources, including vast arable land, favourable climatic conditions, diverse ecological zones, and a youthful population capable of transforming the nation's agricultural landscape. However, these enormous potentials remain underutilized due to persistent challenges such as insecurity, climate change, inadequate infrastructure, post-harvest losses, poor policy implementation, limited access to finance, and declining youth participation in agriculture.

Prof. Aiyelaagbe highlighted horticulture as a strategic sector capable of improving nutrition, creating employment opportunities, increasing farmers' incomes, and driving economic diversification. He advocated greater investment in fruit and vegetable production, value addition, agro-processing, modern irrigation systems, and sustainable farming practices to strengthen Nigeria's food systems.

He further encouraged Nigerian youths to embrace agriculture as a profitable and innovative career path rather than viewing it solely as subsistence farming. According to him, technology, research, entrepreneurship, and innovation have transformed agriculture into a viable sector with enormous opportunities for wealth creation and national development.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of Augustine University, Rev. Fr. Professor Anthony Alaba Akinwale, OP, reaffirmed the University's commitment to advancing knowledge and contributing practical solutions to national development through research, dialogue, and community engagement.

The annual lecture, instituted in honour of the late Mrs. Frederica Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele, continues to provide a platform for intellectual discourse on agriculture, food systems, and sustainable development. The event attracted academics, researchers, government officials, students, members of the University community, and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

The Donor's Representative, Mr. Atanley Ladekpon, expressed appreciation to Augustine University for sustaining the Candida Adenike Afodu Annual Lecture in Agriculture/Horticulture, describing the initiative as a fitting tribute to the enduring legacy and values of the late Mrs. Frederica Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele.

He noted that the annual lecture series was established to promote intellectual engagement on issues that have direct implications for national development, adding that this year's theme, "Food Security: Walking the Talk," was both timely and significant, considering the challenges confronting Nigeria's agricultural sector.

Mr. Ladekpon commended the University for providing a platform that brings together scholars, policymakers, professionals, and students to deliberate on practical solutions to pressing national issues. He expressed confidence that the lecture would generate ideas capable of influencing policies, encouraging innovation, and inspiring collective action towards achieving sustainable food security.

Present at the event were Prof. Mrs. O. Aiyelaagbe, wife of the Guest Speaker; Prof. Steve Afolami, Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Augustine University, and his wife, Prof. Carolyn Afolami; staff and students of Yabatech, Epe Campus; representatives of agribusiness firms in Epe; and other distinguished guests.