Former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Grand Award Night for the 2022 Nigeria Prize for Literature, Science and Literary Criticism, organised by the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) in Lagos on Friday, advocated the need for innovation in food security, agriculture, eradication of hunger and poverty toward human survival and development in Nigeria.
Dr. Obasanjo stated that innovations in food security, eradication of hunger and poverty, securing raw materials for domestic and foreign exchange, will boost development in the country.
According to Obasanjo, “Way back when humans were primarily hunters, they saw the need to cultivate and grow plants and livestock for sustenance, and then as exchange for other goods.
“With increased success, cottage industries bloomed and that principle of survival has still not changed after millions of years.”
He expressed delight at NLNG’s choice of science prize theme, ‘Innovations in Food Security,’ describing it as appropriate.
Obasanjo had stated: “As a farmer, I am really impressed with NLNG’s choice of this year’s science prize theme being ‘Innovations in Food Security.’
“In my view, agriculture is the most ancient and proven industry for mankind.
“What I am saying is that agriculture is synonymous with human survival and development.
“We need to encourage innovations in food security, eradicate hunger and poverty, secure raw materials for domestic and foreign exchange, and we will see the nation develop.”
The former President also said: “I have had the joy of witnessing NLNG’s coming-of-age story; in your maturity, you seek to pull our nation to the height you have attained.
“I enjoin all stakeholders to support NLNG in all its aspirations to help in building a better Nigeria.”
The former President also declared: “NLNG helps in Nigeria’s development, particularly, through its flagship, corporate social responsibility initiative – the ‘Nigeria Prize for Literature, the Nigeria Prize for Science and the ‘Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism.’
“We can adopt world-class best practices and leap with giant strides into the future.
“We can collaborate on exchange of ideas and invest in research and development.
“We can focus on the education and mental development of our people so that we position the nation for the direction it should go