The University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, has indicated plans to collaborate with the Lagos State Government to improve and expand the production of Eko Rice, using its scientific expertise to support the state’s agricultural development goals.
Professor Ganiyu Oyetibo, Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, revealed this during the 60th anniversary celebration of the Department of Botany.
He called on the state government to allocate additional land to the university, explaining that this would aid the accreditation process for UNILAG’s Agriculture Department by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
According to him, access to more farmland would create greater opportunities for student practical training and research.
Oyetibo added that the department’s innovative research capacity could make significant contributions to improving Eko Rice production and enhancing food security across Lagos State.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems, described botany as the backbone of agricultural production.
He emphasized that Nigeria must build food systems that are adaptable, sustainable, and resilient.
Fashola noted that rice plays a far greater role than being a basic meal for Nigerians—it is an essential economic resource and an indicator of the country’s overall stability and growth.
Mr. Oluwarotimi Fashola noted that Nigeria remains the continent’s leading rice consumer, with yearly demand now exceeding seven million metric tons. Yet, in spite of its fertile lands, favourable climate, and strong agricultural potential, the country still struggles to meet this need, and the gap between local production and consumption continues to widen.
He described the situation as a double-edged sword—both a setback and a chance for progress. When production declines, Fashola explained, rice prices surge, setting off a chain reaction that fuels food inflation and reduces household purchasing power.
“That’s how powerful rice is,” he remarked. “When one crop can influence a nation’s economy and affect millions of lives, it tells you how deeply it matters.”
Turning to Lagos State, he said the statistics are just as concerning. The state alone consumes over 20 million 50kg bags of rice every year.
If all of this were produced and processed locally, he said, billions of naira would circulate within the domestic economy, new jobs would emerge across multiple sectors, and dependence on imports would decline, ultimately boosting food security for residents, especially those in low-income areas.
Fashola went on to highlight the Lagos State Government’s commitment to expanding local rice production under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to him, more than 1,500 hectares of farmland have already been cultivated, with improved irrigation and fertilization systems revitalising rice farming.
He also pointed out that the Imota Rice Mill, now the largest in sub-Saharan Africa, can process over 2.5 million bags of finished rice annually.
He described the project as “a forward-looking model that proves what’s possible when scientific innovation aligns with sound policy and investment.”
Fashola added that the integration of science and governance presents tremendous prospects for young Nigerians.
“It opens up a future that is sustainable, profitable, and full of promise,” he said, citing emerging fields like aerobiology, paleontology, plant-based plastics, nanobiotics, and pharmaceuticals as billion-dollar industries that Nigeria must strategically position itself to enter.
Also speaking at the event, retired scholar Professor Dele Olowokudejo appealed for stronger government backing for the Department of Botany and the Faculty of Life Sciences.
He lamented the scarcity of funds for research collaborations and the absence of adequate facilities such as standard laboratories and modern research centres.
Olowokudejo added that the department needs a properly equipped botanical garden to support effective learning and research.
“Right now, the available space is too small to give students meaningful practical exposure or field training in botany,” he said.
