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Agric institutions’ curricula lack organic component, sufficient skilled manpower – experts

Published

7 years ago

April 25, 2019

Some Organic Agriculture experts say the current agriculture curricula being used in Nigeria’s institutions lack the component of organic agriculture practice and sufficient skilled manpower.

The experts said this at the ongoing workshop on “Understanding Organic Agriculture for Curriculum Development’’ organised by Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative in Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

Dr Olugbenga AdeOluwa, the Country Coordinator of EOA Initiative said that organic agriculture “is one of the easily misconstrued aspects of agriculture.’’

“Sustainability of environmental resources and safety are important components of organic agriculture which are lacking in conventional agriculture practice currently taught in our institutions.

“There is a difference between organic agriculture and organic chemistry, therefore proper understanding of organic agriculture is needed for effective curriculum development.’’

AdeOluwa, who is also a lecturer at the University of Ibadan said the curricula must address the issue of the four principles of organic agriculture.

“These include the `Principle of Health’ to sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal and human as one and indivisible.

“Principle of Ecology’ that is be based on and working with living ecological systems and cycles emulate them and help sustain them.

“The Principle of Fairness’ built upon relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.

“The Principle of Care which should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and wellbeing of current and future generations and the environment,’’ AdeOluwa said.

Dr Rasak Olajide, a lecturer with University of Ibadan thanked the EOA for seeing the need to introduce and mainstream organic agriculture content into manpower training at institutions not only in Nigeria, but across the African continent.

Olajide agreed that inadequate knowledge and trained manpower in organic agriculture had prevented its content inclusion in the curricula, especially in Nigeria.

“The direct and immediate consequence of this is dearth of manpower in organic agriculture in our training institutions such as polytechnics and universities.

“Few that are handy are products of short courses in aspects of organic agriculture or those that did related research in using knowledge generated from research to teach organic agriculture lessons.

“The onus lies on our educational institutions to provide a critical mass of professionals to serve these enterprises.’’

Mr Oyewole Gbadamosi, the Project Manager of EOA Initiative said the overall goal of the initiative was to mainstream Ecological Organic Agriculture into national agricultural production systems, policies and practices by 2025.

Gbadamosi said that this was done to improve agricultural productivity, food security, access to markets and sustainable development.

“Our vision is to have a vibrant Ecological Organic System for Enhanced Food Security and Sustainable Development in Africa.

“We also want to promote ecologically sound strategies and practices among diverse stakeholders in production, processing, and marketing through strategic actions and policy making to alleviate poverty, guarantee adequate and healthy food security, improve livelihoods and safeguard the environment.

“EOA is collaborating with the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN).

“And Organic Agriculture Projects in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria (OAPTIN), Association of Deans of Agriculture in Nigeria (ADAN) to execute the mainstreaming of organic agriculture into the tertiary institution’s curriculum,” he said.

He said that EOA was also partnering with stakeholders to address the issue of lack of skilled manpower.

“We have established Farmers Resource Centres, produced over 23 information and communication materials.

“And the initiative has also successfully supported four masters and two PhD degree programmes,’’ Gbadamosi added.

Mr Ernest Aubee, the Head of Agriculture Division, ECOWAS commission called on all stakeholders to respond to the increasing demand for skilled personnel that could appropriately handle organic agriculture maters.

“Your aim at this workshop must be to see how best to mainstream organic agriculture into the school curriculum to encourage and promote its sustainability in the country.

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Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

3 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

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