Covenant University and development experts have called for practical research into food preservation, distribution and the challenges facing farmers as Nigeria struggles with food insecurity.
The experts said universities must move beyond research focused mainly on increasing crop yields and investigate the economic and structural problems affecting agricultural production and access to food.
The call followed a summit organised jointly by Covenant University and Innovation for Poverty Action to mark World Food Day and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
In a report published on Saturday, October 17, 2026, The Punch said participants at the summit, held at the university’s Centre for Research, Innovation and Discovery auditorium, discussed how academic research could address food insecurity and poverty.
The Dean of the College of Science and Technology, Prof. Afolabi Sunmola, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Anake, said research should address the challenges linking food insecurity with access to education and healthcare.
The summit identified high fertiliser and seed costs, rural insecurity and unpredictable weather patterns as major pressures destabilising farming activities.
These challenges affect farmers’ ability to produce food consistently and sustain their businesses. Rising input costs increase production expenses, while insecurity and changing weather conditions create additional risks for farmers.
Participants also identified inadequate food preservation facilities as a major contributor to post-harvest losses.
They called for research into affordable cold-storage facilities and more efficient distribution systems to help farmers preserve harvested produce and transport it to markets before it spoils.
Reducing post-harvest losses could help farmers retain more of their produce for sale while improving the efficiency of the food supply chain.
The university’s Director of International Office and Linkages, Dr Gershon Obindah, said technological innovations should be assessed by their impact on people’s lives rather than their novelty.
He argued that digital tools alone could not eliminate poverty without practical interventions that improve access to essential needs, including food.
The experts also called for stronger collaboration among universities, development organisations and other stakeholders to ensure research findings translate into practical solutions to hunger and poverty.
Their recommendations place emphasis on connecting academic research with the everyday challenges facing farmers and vulnerable households.
Rather than measuring progress only through higher crop yields, the experts want research to address the wider obstacles affecting food production, preservation and distribution.
The summit’s message was that tackling Nigeria’s food crisis requires solutions that go beyond the farm to address the economic pressures on farmers and the weaknesses that allow harvested food to go to waste.
