Hunger-Free World Unachievable, Says MOUAU Professor
Professor Uzochukwu Onyebinama, a leading Agricultural Economics scholar at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), has stated that completely eradicating hunger worldwide is unattainable, despite the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) that aims to end hunger and achieve food security.
Delivering the university’s 63rd inaugural lecture titled “Tales in Quest of Freedom from Hunger”, Professor Onyebinama highlighted that in 2023, approximately 733 million people faced hunger, while 2.33 billion experienced moderate to severe food insecurity. He cited these figures as evidence that a fully hunger-free world is unlikely.
“The scripture tells us that we must always have the poor with us, and the poor will not cease out of the land,” Onyebinama said. He emphasized that while completely ending hunger may be unrealistic, ensuring that people have access to at least two proper meals daily is achievable.
The professor also criticized government policies that restrict access to land for agricultural production, particularly in the South East, arguing that such limitations hamper sustainable food production and exacerbate hunger.
Read also: Tinubu Appoints Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu as UBTH Chief Medical Director
He advocated for the full enforcement of the Land Use Decree and increased investment in agricultural research and local technological adoption rather than importing solutions from abroad.
Professor Onyebinama further compared land availability across regions, noting that Niger State possesses over 85% arable land out of its 76,363 square kilometres, while the South East, despite high population density, has far less agricultural land. He argued that these disparities make initiatives like Rural Grazing Areas (RUGA) in the South East unnecessary.
Vice-Chancellor of MOUAU, Professor Maduebibisi Ofor Iwe, commended the lecture, describing it as well-delivered. He echoed the professor’s views that government support for agriculture, research, and credit systems is critical to achieving meaningful freedom from hunger.
The lecture concluded with a call for practical interventions in agriculture that prioritize local solutions, sustainable development, and equitable land access to strengthen food security in Nigeria.
