By: Blessing Nnabuife
Nnamdi Azikiwe University recently held the 85th Inaugural Lecture of Prof Nkiru Meludu at Unizik Campus Awka.
Nkiru Theresa Meludu (Ph.D., STA, NF, OKF, LKSP) is a Professor of Food and Nutrition Security and Agricultural Extension Services, and the immediate past Dean-Faculty of Agriculture, Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension (2016 – 2021), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. Her areas of specialization include Agricultural Extension/Advisory Services/Rural Development, Food and Nutrition Security, Home Economics, Hospitality and Tourism, Gender, Ecological Organic Agriculture, and Climate Change.
She became a Professor in 2010 at the University of Ibadan where she worked from July 1, 1995, to January 31, 2018, before transferring her service to Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. She is a member of both national and international associations, to mention but a few: AESON (Life member Treasure -2016- 2020; Vice President 2020 to date) RUSAN (Life member, Financial Secretary 2005 -2007), NOAN (Editor 2015 -2022), IFOAM, ISOFAR, IFHE, HECN, HERAN, SHEN, RUSAN, NIFAAS, AFAAS, GIFAAS, Apiculture Society of Nigeria, Association of Deans of Agriculture in Nigeria (Treasurer), etc.
She is the BoT Chair for NOARA, BoT Member Civil Alliance for Climate Action (CACA), BoT member Unizik Farmers Association, and BoT member of Farming Food for Africa. She has published over 110 articles in Journals, Books, and Chapters in Books.
Prof Meludu, during her lecture, titled "Trajectories of food and nutrition insecurity: dynamic and equilibrium". Expressed gratitude to God for the gift of life to witness the 85th inaugural lecture in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and the second inaugural lecture from the faculty of Agriculture. She started by emphasizing that Food is very crucial for the survival of man be it from plant or animal sources, "a nation without fragile food security will have fragile internal security, resulting to a population of people with bottled anger awaiting explosion".
Prof Meludu also disclosed the Global hunger index, international food policy research institute 2022, which said that the major way to reduce hunger is by upholding the components of food security (availability, accessibility/affordability, stability, safety, and utilization/adequacy) at the individual, family, communities, state and national levels. Also, the African hunger index by international food policy research institute 2022, indicated that 702 and 828 million people in the world faced hunger in 2021.
She further explained, how sustainable development goals can be achieved to end hunger, by ensuring that all people, both the poor and vulnerable (infants, pregnant nursing mothers, and people living with HIV/AIDs) have access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food. "Food and Agriculture Organization has projected that about 25.3 million people in Nigeria will face acute food insecurity from June to August 2023, a quarterly released by the global organization shows that the figure projected is high than the 19.45 million people in forecasts in 2022".
There is no need for a prophet to show us that people have started feeling the pinch. This is the reason why something needs to be done as regards today’s hunger caused by several issues including the removal of subsidy without palliatives.
Prof Meludu stated her contributions towards ameliorating the challenges of food and nutrition security cut across the major areas of her specialization including Agricultural Extension, Home Economics, Gender and Generational, Climate, Organic Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, and Artificial Intelligence.
She listed her team who in 1999 they ascertained the role of women in sustainable food security in Nigeria," the results showed that women play a significant role in food availability and food security".
This research earned her accolade from Canada. She also conducted a proximate analysis and potential of sweet potato toasted granules as a dietary supplement for diabetics, it was discovered that the more fermented the sweet potato paste before toasting, the lower the sugar content and the more appealing and acceptable the taste. Hence the product becomes an additional food for diabetic patients.
Prof noted that "Value addition to agricultural produce is a possible potential in reducing poverty and improving food insecurity and malnutrition, achieving food security in the country is of great importance to the sustainability of the nation’s development as it can boost other sectors of the Nigerian economy. She also mentioned the fact that the different and non-standardized measuring units in many Nigerian markets are part of the fighter for food security. The Price Control Board should provide special standardized containers with government inscription of the unit it represents.
Prof Nkiru Meludu also showcases her value-added products; sweet potato and herbal tea for good health and sustainable food security, leading to food diversification. She has also conducted pieces of training on nutrition-sensitive and healthy food consumption patterns in many rural and urban areas.
"The significance of the discovery of chronic fighters of food security and the trajectories of food and nutrition insecurity determined the dynamism for a solution through equilibrium in the dynamics for sustainable food and nutrition insecurity". She concluded that the most outstanding dynamic is the addition of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to equalize the dynamics and form the equilibrium. She recommended that the use of Artificial intelligence is highly conceivable in other to address the consequences and to be on a sustainable healthy trajectory for food and nutrition security within the country. AI is also needed to fight insurgencies in many areas of the country including farm areas.
The vice chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the chairman of the occasion, Prof Charles Okechukwu Esimone, expressed profound gratitude to God for the gift of life to witness the event, commended Prof Nkiru Meludu for the wonderful exploit she has been making.
He described Inaugural Lectures are designed to show or showcase our very best and allow them to show us the very best in a simple language that will be easily
understandable to the town and gown why they so merited to be Processors.
He further said that "the inaugural lecture series that we have been having is contributing very visibly to the accomplishment of the growth and development of the academic".
Prof Esimone, further said that the topic prepared and lectured by Meludu, was appt because it talked about food security and is affecting everybody. Esimone appreciated all the members of the inaugural lecture committee for the wonderful leadership shown by the team.
The event had in attendance Professors from far and near, including DVC (Adim) Prof Joseph Ikechebelu, DVC (Acad) Prof Frederick John Chidi Odibo, and Prof SC. Meludu, Prof Richard Uwakwe (Chairman Inaugural Lecture Committee), Prof Pat Mba (IIP HEPAN/Council), Prof Abraham (Chairperson BoT Association of Deans of Nigeria), Dr. Jude Obi (President of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria), Abagana Welfare Union (Women) among others.
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