The Co-founder and Global Director of BudgiT, Nigeria’s leading civil organisation, Mr. Oluseun Onigbinde, has said the world is now at a convergence point where soil scientists, nutritionists, and other experts extension workers and animal experts may have to learn coding and machine language, to belong to the emerging agri-conomy. He said this while speaking at the 25th Annual Convention and 24th Annual Lecture Series of the Alumni Association of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, with the theme ‘Leading Agritech Revolution: The Role of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain in Agri-conomy’, held at the institution.
On his part, the co-speaker, Mr. Femi Adekoya, also known as the Flying Farmer and Founder, Integrated Aerial Precision and Precision Field Academy, has charged the University Management to incorporate drone technology into its curriculum, establish drone training centre, promote collaboration, between the University and industry partners. The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of FUNAAB, Alhaji Umar Ahmed revealed that alumni associations are known to be key stakeholders in the advancement of their universities, noting that in many institutions, including FUNAAB, a seat is most reserved for the alumni body on the governing council.
The Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Olusola Kehinde disclosed that the University had continued to register and record giant strides in its continued growth and development, and in its pursuit of excellence. The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Christian Ikeobi, said the alumni should be proud of their alma mater because it had continued to move forward among leading universities. The National President, FUNAAB Alumni Association, Dr. Olusegun Ogundiran, reiterated that the theme of the annual lecture was carefully crafted to address the opportunities found in embedded in applying emerging technologies of AI.