DELSU Holds 120th Inaugural Lecture, VC Commends Lecturer’s Proposed Model For Achieving Food Security In Nigeria

By Ese Umukoro

Vice Chancellor of Delta State University (DELSU), Professor Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, has commended Professor Bishop Ochuko Ovwigho, for his proposed agricultural model towards achieving food security in Nigeria.

DELSU Vice Chancellor, Professor Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba (L), decorating Professor Bishop Ochuko Ovwigho(R), with the Distinguished Medal of DELSU Inaugural Lecturers.

Professor Asagba gave the commendation at the 120th in the series of inaugural lectures of the University which took place recently at the 750 Lecture Theatre A, Site III.

He further stated that the model appears free from corruption which has been the bane of the nation’s development. Professor Asagba concluded that the inaugural lecturer’s model of monitoring and evaluation was capable of taking the nation out of hunger and starvation.

While delivering his lecture earlier on the topic: Achieving Food Security: Hierarchy of Objectives Monitoring and Evaluation Model for Agricultural Development Programmes, Professor Bishop Ochuko Ovwigho, lamented that Nigeria is in a dilemma as the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation’s (UN-FAO) Report projected that by August, 2026, 35.7 million Nigerians would face hunger and hunger is an extreme and devastating form of food insecurity.

The Professor of Agricultural Programme Monitoring and Evaluation also said that the report calls for concern which necessitated his development of a hierarchy of objectives monitoring and evaluation model as a panacea to the food crisis in Nigeria. The model is a matrix of linkages between input objectives to activities; activities to output; output to purpose/effects; and purpose/effects to impact/goals. He further underscored that the objective of all agricultural programmes was to improve food security while the impact was to change the socio-economic status of the people. Bridging the these two gaps are effective measurement and evaluation which could be likened to checks and balances. As part of his concluding remarks, Professor Ovwigho recommended that his model should be adopted by governments and international agricultural agencies as it is not corruption friendly and a sure way of overcoming food insecurity.

Other highlights of the 120th inaugural lecture were the decoration of the inaugural lecturer, Professor Bishop Ochuko Ovwigho with the prestigious medal of inaugural lecturers of the University by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, special musical rendition by the Department of Music, photo sessions of the inaugural lecturer with principal officers of the university as well as with family and friends.

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Dignitaries present at the ceremony included Vice Chancellor of DELSU, Prof Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, wife of DELSU Vice Chancellor, Dame (Mrs) Elizabeth Olabimpe Asagba, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Edmund Aviedo Atakpo, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor Hilary Ijeoma Owamah, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Douglasson Omotor, Provost of Oleh Campus, Professor Austine Atonuje, Registrar of the University, Mrs Rufina Ufiofio, the University Bursar, Mrs Otimeyin Ekakitie-Omajuwa, the University Librarian, Dr Josephine Eruterio Onohwakpor represented by Dr Violet Ikolo. Also in attendance were former Vice Chancellor of DELSU, Emeritus Professor Eric Arubayi and his wife, Professor (Mrs) Diana Arubayi, former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Ochuko Anomohanran, Provosts, Deans, Directors, Professors, students, friends and family members of the inaugural lecturer.