Don urges interventions against challenges of nation’s population growth

Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, a former Vice Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi, has called for interventions to address the challenges of population growth in the country and Africa.

Nwajiuba made the call on Tuesday at a lecture and launch of a book by the College of Agricultural Economics, Rural Sociology and Extension, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU).

The book was written in honour of the pioneer Dean of the college, Prof. Aloysius Nwosu.

Nwajiuba, who was a Guest Lecturer at the event, spoke on “Continued food insecurity and underdevelopment in Afric, in changing contexts of climate change, socio-political conflicts and wars”.

He described food insecurity and other parameters of underdevelopment as challenges in most African countries, in spite of numerous policies, programmes and projects by domestic and international interests.

“The projected population growth that sees Nigeria as third most populated country in the world after China and India, and more than the United States, as a country with over 400 million by 2050, need not be the case,” he said.

Nwajiuba, represented by his wife, Prof. Chinyere Nwajiuba, congratulated Nwosu on his “purposeful and achievement-filled career”.

Our correspondent reports that the 577-page book is entitled, “Innovative agriculture for structural transformation in Nigeria: Book of readings in honour of Nwosu”.

The book reviewer, Prof. Ike Nwachukwu, described the book as very voluminous, with many contributors.

According to Nwachukwu, the book is rich with the calibre of contributors and quality of production.

Reading his citation, Dr Raphael Iheke, Head of Department (HOD) of Agricultural Economics, said that Nwosu supervised more that 170 undergraduate projects, about 45 Masters’ dissertations and more that 40 Doctorate thesis, before he meritoriously retired from active service in 2007.

Earlier in a remark, the Dean of the college, Prof. Maria-Stella Njoku, described Nwosu as a father par excellence, role model, an exemplary leader and erudite personality.

The Vice Chancellor of MOUAU, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, represented by Deputy VC (Academics), Prof. Herbert Udo, paid special tribute to Nwosu who, he said, “made his mark in the school”.

In a response, Nwosu, who was the pioneer dean and HOD of Agricultural Economics, said the event was the greatest honour he had ever received.
He thanked the college and the university community for the gesture.