Some agriculture stakeholders have lauded the legacy of the late former Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, who passed away in the early hours of Saturday.
The stakeholders lauded the late ex-minister’s achievements in the sector in separate interviews with reporters in Lagos state.
Ogbeh was a farmer, playwright, and politician who served as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2015 to 2019.
A statement from Ogbeh’s family confirmed his death.
The Chairman of Lagos and Southwest of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr. Femi Oke, commended the policies carried out during the late ex-minister’s tenure.
“He was once our minister, and most of his policies at that time were on course for the sector.
“We have lost him, and it is sad news for those of us in the agriculture sector. May his soul rest in peace.
“He contributed his quota to the sector during his time in office and has now gone to rest. We wish his family the fortitude to bear the loss,” Oke said.
On his part, Mr. Godwin Egbebe, the National Publicity Secretary of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, noted that Ogbeh did not pay lip service to agricultural development during his time in office.
“For me, I will say the late ex-minister of agriculture tried during his time in office. Though he was not an agric major, he had a passion for agriculture because he had a farm before he became minister,” Egbebe said.
Also, Mr. Akin Alabi, an agriculture expert and co-founder of Corporate Farmers International, praised the late ex-minister’s strides in the sector but noted the lack of youth inclusivity in his policy programmes.
“He was a good man; he tried with the rice revolution during his time, and he did a lot. In fact, one of the programmes they did for the rice revolution is what they are now using.
“Also, he did a few projects in terms of research. It was during his time that the Rural Grazing Area Livestock Programme was also implemented,” Alabi said.