The maiden edition of Afe Babalola Food Security Expo, ABAFEX 2015, will hold October 5 to 9 at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.

A statement by the organisers said, “The first of its kind to be staged under auspices of a private university in Nigeria, ABAFEX will mentor technology-savvy agriculturists to create massive job opportunities in Nigeria, using The ABAUD Farm and Research Centre as a model for Food security hub in tandem with IITA, UNESCO, and World Bank indices.”

In a paper delivered at The African Youths For Agriculture Conference (AYAC) in Sandton, South Africa, Mr Caleb Osasona, Project Consultant and Technical Partner, called on the elite to tow the line of the lofty vision of Aare Aare Afe Babalola, who is the Chief Promoter of ABAFEX.

Osasona described the slump in oil prices around the world as a turning point to rethinking the need to go back to the farm. He described Nigeria’s mono-economy dependence as utter disillusionment. “The misplaced apathy and poor perception by young people over farming as a dead-end endeavor is worrisome.”

Already gaining social media buzz, the annual expo shall bring together 16 local government areas of Ekiti State and beyond with farmers and exhibitors carting away various prizes and awards. Aside vast business leads and networking opportunities, the event shall showcase Agricultural products, Food Processing, Researchers, Trade groups, Equipments, ICT, Poultry Anima/Livestock, Feed millers, Veterinary, Herbal/Organic Medicine and downstream sectors.

•Photo showsCaleb Osasona.