Today's Leaders Forum Praise 2019: "NIGERIANS MUST BE ENGAGED; PERSEVERANCE, FOCUS, WARY OF GOD AND AGGRESSIVE EFFORT IS THE KEY- DR. M.A POPOOLA speaks

IN AN ONLINE INTERVIEW WITH DR. M.A POPOOLA @ TODAY'S LEADERS FORUM @ PRAISE 2019.

⭕ CAN WE MEET YOU SIR❓

I am Popoola Moshood Abiola, a senior lecturer at FCAHP&PT Ibadan, I specialised in Genetics and Animal Breeding as well as Livestock Extension for sustainable development and as strategy for food security. I think much has been said about me in the Biography.

⭕CAN YOU SHARE WITH US YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE JOURNEY TO ATTAIN YOUR HIGHEST ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION OF PhD sir❓

The journey is rough and tough, though sometimes it was smooth but all in all it requires perseverance, determination and focus.  It was a smooth ride for me during my BSc days but it wasn't smooth for the remaing three degrees ( i mean my first MSc, Second MSc and PhD) particularly when I was doing my second MSc and PhD it was like hell but at the end of the day it is now a story. But it took perseverance, determination, focus, prayer and aggressive effort just like I have said earlier on.

 ⭕SHARE WITH US YOUR STORY TO THE ACADEMIC WORLD AS A LECTURER

 I have been nursing ambition to be a lecturer because right from onset I love teaching with passion. I have taught at all levels if education right from primary, secondary and now higher educational level and hopefully planning, praying and working towards teaching at University level. When I finished my BSc I was offered a bank job which I declined because I wanted to lecture. Though I was trying other job offers but not banking I never liked it not until I was employed in the year 2012 as lecturer III at FCAH&PT, Ibadan. I was very happy that it was like a dream come true. Because of the passion and love I have for the profession and with the help.of God it was, is and has been  easy like ABC for me. I love all aspects of lecturing ranging from teaching in the classroom, supervising students for project, conducting research, setting and grading students exams and any other jobs assigned to me in the profession

 

⭕Sir, TELL US HOW YOUR PROFESSIONAL & ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS YOU HAVE OBTAINED HAS HELPED YOU PERSONALLY

 It has made me to realize that the more I read the more I know I know nothing. Meaning that I am always inspire to learn more. There is always a quest for knowledge for me.

 ⭕AS A SENIOR LECTURER AND A MANAGEMENT MEMBER, HOW HAS IT BEEN RELATING BETWEEN THE MANAGEMENT AND YOUR STUDENTS❓

 Smile. I am not yet a Management member but as a Senior lecturer I have been relating well with management members. Take for instance I am the Chairman of Research and Development Committee of the College, I was made the Chairman in 2017 and ever since then the Committee has successfully organised two annual workshop for staff as capacity building. Presently we are proposing to organise the Maiden national scientific conference in the College all these would not have been possible without the support of the College Management. In a nutshell I have been enjoying good relationship with the College Management

 ⭕SHARE WITH US A DIFFICULT SITUATION YOU FIND YOUR SELF BALANCING BETWEEN THE MANAGEMENT AND STUDENTS IN THE INSTITUTION

 I have not really found myself in such situation. I have been applying diplomacy in handling students and discharging my duties. My rule of engagement here is ' Don't get too close to students and dont go too far from them'.

⭕ Sir, HOW HAS IT BEEN BALANCING BETWEEN STUDENTS IN THE ACADEMIC WORLD AND FAMILY WITH YOUR EVER BUSY SCHEDULE❓

Thank you for this, lots of people always ask me this question even my colleagues. This is because I resume in office by few minutes to 8 in the morning and leave office by 6:30 or 7pm, sometimes I do come on weekends too. It is a very simple  thing, with God on my side who has always been and will continue to be my strength I have been able to balance between my job and my family. Once I get home, office works end, I devout the time to my kids and wife. We do play and even watch movies together and on some weekends I create time to take them out to parks and public places. On Sunday hardly will you see me working except in few cases when I have deadlines to meet.

⭕ Sir, STUDENTS AND GRADUATES OF AGRICULTURE FEEL INFERIOR AND HARDLY PRACTICE, YOUR OPINION SIR ❓

 I don't think graduate of agric feel inferior to practice but I agree with the fact that they hardly practice. They don't feel inferior to practice because if you need to see how youths who are not even graduate of agric are venturing into various agric enterprises ranging from poultry production, sheep and goat, cattle , crop production and the likes. But graduates of agric hardly practice because of financial problem. Sincerely agric it's not an enterprise one can venture into if one is not financially bouyant. And this is whee our government is failing the youth.

 ⭕ NIGERIA YOUTHS ARE LAZY: ONE OF THE REASONS FOR HIGH RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT, YOUR VIEW SIR❓

The answer is Yes and No. Nigerian Youth  are lazy in the sense that most of the youth want to get rich without working, they want to be like Dangote, Otedola and the likes but they are not ready to pass thru what these rich men had passed thru. " eni ti o sebi alaaru lejigbo ko le sebi adegbooro Loja oba" . Whether we like it or not youth must be up well and doing enough of staying on internet and social media to make comment. The youth of Nigeria are wasting away, they waste themselves, waste their time and at the end of the day they want to live big this is the reason for rampant ritual activities among the youths.

As regards the youth not lazy, lots of youth are doing great things but our government is not helping. There is no motivation from government, no encouragement, no stipend. Of course they say before you ask for what Nigeria will do for you, you should ask yourself what you will do for Nigeria. The question is even if you do something for Nigeria will the government  appreciate, motivate and

 encourage such a youth? This is not happening in  developed countries of the world.

⭕ Sir,  EMPOWER THE YOUTH AND DEVELOP THE ECONOMY: YOUR SAY ON THIS SIR❓

 This is the only answer to the problem of this nation. Once the youth have been empowered the rest is history.

 ⭕ AGRICULTURE: THE TURNING POINT TO A SUCCESSFUL NIGERIA ECONOMY. YOUR OPINION SIR❓

Most countries of the world have been developing their economy using agriculture particularly those without mineral resources. Let me give example of some countries in Africa like Kenya and Ethiopia. Ethiopia has the largest number of livestock in Africa. 

From the proceedings of agric they used it to develop their aviation industry. They now have the best airline in Africa that is Ethiopia Airlines. If Nigeria can toll the same way, our economy will boom.

 ⭕MOST AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN NIGERIA ARE NOT DELIVERING ON THEIR MANDATED, WHAT ARE THE WAY FORWARD❓

Attitudinal change and self discipline of the researchers, the Institute and the government finding agencies

⭕RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND FOOD SECURITY: YOUR VIEW AS A RESEARCHER AND AN ACADEMIA❓

Food security should be end product of all research institutes because any agricultural research conducted that will not improve food security is nothing or wastes. Research in agric must be conducted to make food available at all times to people of a nation. 

However, the reverse is the case in Nigeria our case is like " water, water everywhere not enough to drink"

⭕MYRIADS OF PROJECT WORK BY STUDENTS OF AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA END UP ON  LIBRARY SHELVE, YOUR OPINION ❓

 

Our government caused it. This is because students are not even suppose to fund their project this should be responsibility of government or the institution thru research grants but what do we have in Nigeria. Aside this, most of these projects are turned into publication for purpose of promotion in most cases which should not be d only purpose rather publications are also suppose to serve as means of communicating scientific output to other stakeholders like farmers, private investors, consumers etc.

 ⭕SEX FOR GRADE HAS BECOME CULTURE IN HIGHER INSTITUTION, ANY WAY OUT ❓

Moral etiquette by the students. Parents teaching and training their kids to be self dependent. And lecturers to be self disciplined. All in all in descent dressing among the female students should be stopped. Female students should learn to be modest in dressing. Above all we should all be wary of God at all times

AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA AND ABROAD ; JUXTAPOSE SIR❓

 The difference is very clear, obvious and glaring. It is like u want to compare sleepiness with death. Imagine a situation where they are using ultrasound scan to check the status of foetus in an animal in developed countries and we are still here as a farmer not knowing if ur animal is gravid (pregnant) or not. 

Or when you are still using trial and method to formulate feeds where over there there are lots of programming to formulate feeds for ur animals. Or where we are here still using spade and shovel to mix our feeds while over there they are using automated mixer. On and on like that.

⭕ RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN DEVELOPED COUNTRY ARE WELL FINANCED AND ARE DELIVERING SIGNIFICANTLY: DOES INCREASED FUNDING TO RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN NIGERIA MEANS IMPROVE DELIVERY ON THEIR MANDATE. YOUR VIEW SIR❓

Yes and No. It requires both increase in the funding and attitudinal change to use the fund for the purpose it is meant for not to divert it to personal pocket.

⭕ YOUR ADVICE TO YOUTHS IN AGRICULTURE❓

⭕YOUR ADVICE TO NIGERIA YOUTH SIR❓

Never give up. Be focused, know what you want and be aggressive in searching for opportunities (legitimate ones). 

Let me say this way I said opportunities I am not talking about job alone there are lots of opportunities out there like  scholarships and fellowship for youths In Agric an example is YALE  , another one is MoAbudu, CTA is there as international organization, IFAD etc 

 Sir, On behalf of the Convener of TLF, all TLF members, PRAISE 2019 MEDIA TEAM and every stakeholders. We appreciate you for your time, your fatherly support and encouragement. I pray to God Almighty to continue to uplift you and preserve you for the betterment of improving the nation.

Thanks so much sir

Amen

You are always welcome

It's a pleasure.