‘Agriculture remains Nigeria’s best path to prosperity’

Executive Chairman of Origin Tech Group Nigeria, Prince Samuel Joseph Samuel, has described agriculture as the country’s most reliable pathway to economic prosperity and called for stronger partnerships to unlock its full potential. Samuel made this known while receiving members of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, led by Vice Chancellor Prof. […]

Executive Chairman of Origin Tech Group Nigeria, Prince Samuel Joseph Samuel, has described agriculture as the country’s most reliable pathway to economic prosperity and called for stronger partnerships to unlock its full potential.

Samuel made this known while receiving members of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, during a courtesy visit to the company’s corporate headquarters.

The discussions centred on forging a partnership between the university and Origin Tech Group to advance agricultural development.

“Agriculture is key to Nigeria’s growth potential in driving economic development,” Samuel said. He noted that the agricultural value chain presents opportunities to transform the economy through strategic investment, sustainable practices and innovation.

He explained that with Nigeria’s population growing at nearly three percent annually and projected to reach 378 million by 2050, the need for food security has become more urgent.

“Ensuring food security requires a value chain that connects rural and urban areas so that the expected high demand for food is achieved. Hence, the role of stakeholders, including institutions like OAU, is crucial,” he said.

According to him, commercial large-scale farming powered by mechanisation, irrigation and modern technology remains the most promising tool for job creation, market reorganisation and improved livelihoods.

He added that tertiary institutions have a pivotal role to play in producing ideas and manpower that can sustain this transformation.

Responding, Prof. Bamire commended Origin Tech Group for its innovative approach to tackling food system challenges and expressed the university’s readiness to partner with the company.

“We all should return to the farms as the panacea to solving our multifarious economic challenges,” he said, adding that OAU would fully support the collaboration to enhance training and prepare future industry leaders.