Ogun Agric Commissioner, Odedina ends 2021 with NISS, Media links award

Stories By Ola Awodele

To cap year a very successful year 2021 in terms of agricultural development in all ramifications were series of awards on the Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Dr Adeola Odedina.

Odedina has brought into the ministry, vibrancy and resulted oriented initiatives which had hitherto not been witnessed in the sector.

Joining long queue of organizations who applaud the sterling performance of Dr Odedina in the agric sector of Ogun State are The Nigerian Institute of Soil Science (NISS) and the Media Links Africa

On its part,  NISS presented an Award of Excellence for  outstanding performance in making Ogun and the Agricultural  sector proud.

The Institute presented the award during a courtesy call on Dr Odedina in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta to raise awareness on its existence as well as encourage farmers to patronise professionals in   determining the quality of Soil for Agricultural  purposes in order to guarantee productivity and better yields.

NISS is primarily charged with the responsibility for regulating the profession of Soil Science in Nigeria.

It was established by an Act of the National  Assembly in the year 2017.

The Act establishing it also establishes the Council of the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science and the Nigerian Institute of Soil and the Science Disciplinary Tribunal.

The Act stipulates that: the  Institute shall be a body corporate and shall be governed by the Council and that the Institute shall, among other things, regulate the practice of the profession for Soil Scientists.

While presenting the award to the Commissioner for Agriculture in Ogun State  on behalf of the institute, its South West Coordinator, Professor James  Adediran said the Commissioner is well known to him as someone who is always working for success. 

He said,” Two decades ago, I have known the Commissioner and I am not surprised that what we see on Televsion showcasing the activities of this Ministry by his leadership were happening through him”

 “For that reason, the Nigerian Institute  of Soil Science notes that you are at the Vanguard of promoting Agriculture and making the state proud; making the Governor  proud. We therefore contended that the stride of this man is worth appreciating to encourage him to do more”.

Professor Adediran informed that the Soil Society of Nigeria recognised the problems associated with soil management and administration and as a result recommend to the National Assembly  the need for the establishment of an Institute  of Soil Science  which the government embraced.

He speaks further on the essence of the Institute:

“We are not saying that farmers do not know about soil, but they should give full recognition to the importance of soil and how they can take care of the soil through the engagement of professionals”.

” The Nigerian Institute of Soil Science  have experts that knows about soil that can help the farmers to test the soil and interprete what is inside the soil for the benefit of the plant the farmer wants to plant”

A member of the Institute,  Professor Jamiu Azeez while speaking on the role of the institute said it provides the following services:solving soil related problems that could emanate from Agricultural or Environmental  activities, providing expertise In seasoned training on sustainable soil management practices for farmers as well as providing expertise in soil test for Ogun State Agricultural  Ministry among others.

Speaking on the efforts of the current administration in the state to promote the best farming practices, the Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr.  Adeola Odedima said since the inception of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration in Ogun  State, it had recognised the importance of good soil to Agricultural productivity.

This according to him had conditioned its resolve to invest in soil test, evaluation and management.

This is with a view to promote agricultural productivity  and yield, knowing full well that using the right soil in planting is a  primary prerequisite towards promoting agricultural productivity.

Dr. Odedina Said: “I want to tell you that the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun recognises the importance of soil to agricultural  yield and productivity early enough. That is why, one of the very few jobs we gave out in this industry at inception was the job to the Institute  of Agricultural  Research  and Training IAR&T to evaluate soil in the twenty local government area of the state”.

According to the Commissioner, when the government received the report, it called a stakeholders’ meeting to review the result and it was a surprise that the local farmers were complementing the result through their various submissions.

“This is to tell you that as government, we recognise the importance of soil.So,I can tell you that this visit is timely. And ,now that I know that the institute exists, and it is ready to carry out that function,we shall be working with you,either with investors or on our youths programme, so that we can evaluate our soil, so that we do not get caught in the area of non – productivity of primary production”, he said.

While assuring the Institute of collaboration and support, Dr. Odedina:

“We now have the institute of Soil science that can partner with players in food and farm sector, so that we achieve food security. So,I can assure you on behalf of our Governor that Ogun State will partner with the Institute of Soil Science of Nigeria”.

In similar vein, on New eve, Friday, 31st December, 2021, Dr Odedina  bagged another award as the Most Vibrant Commissioner for Agriculture in South West Nigeria.

Presenting the Medalinks Media Africa Award 2021 in his office in Abeokuta, the CEO Medalinks, Omooba Tiamiyu Taiwo said Dr. Odedina bagged the award based on the unprecedented feats recorded in the Agricultural Sector of Ogun State leading to Food Security, Job Creation and Agricultural Industrialization in the State.

Responding shortly after receiving the award, Dr. Odedina appreciated Medalinks Team for the award which he said would spur him to do more in realization of the Agricultural Agenda of the present administration led by His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR, who has stated his resolve to use Agriculture as one of the vehicles to drive the State’s economy.

Other team members from Medialink were, the Human Resource Manager, Mrs. Joecelia Monica and the Editor, Mr. Wale Bakare.