Opening speech Good morning/afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
• The Vice-Chancellor [University of Lagos, university of first choice and nation’s pride]
• The Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences Prof. Adelaja Odukoya represented by Prof Ferdinand Ottoh
• Our distinguished awardees
• Our Distinguished Speaker, Prof. Vide Adedayo
• The panellists
• The Executive Director of Intergenerational Rescue Foundation Mrs. Abimbola Aghahowa
• My dear Colleagues and Staff of the Department and other departments present,
• The innovator presenters
• Gentlemen of the Press,
• And most importantly, our vibrant Students and Community Members.
You are all welcome to the Department of Social Work.
We are gathered here today under the theme: ‘Sowing Seeds of Innovation.
There is a common saying that ‘A hungry man is an angry man.’ But as Social Workers, we know that a hungry man is also a vulnerable man, a disempowered man, and a man whose dignity is under threat.
Today, we are here to challenge the narrative that food security is only the business of the Faculty of Agriculture. We are here to prove that while Agriculture plants the seed, it is Social Work that ensures the harvest reaches the table of the widow, the orphan, and the underserved.
As a department and as the Head of Department, I am proud to host this event ‘agroween 2025’ because it aligns with the core mandate of our profession: Social Justice.
We are witnessing rising food inflation and economic shocks. The old methods of simply distributing food bags are no longer enough. We need Innovation. We need systems that don’t just feed people for a day but empower them for a lifetime. This event is designed to sensitize and equip our students and staff with the practical tools to build those systems.
I must specially appreciate our partner, [Intergenerational Rescue Foundation].In academia, we often deal with theories and models—the ‘Town and Gown’ divide. But [Intergenerational Rescue Foundation] is in the trenches, doing the practical work. By bringing their field experience to our classroom today, we are bridging the gap between theory and practice. Thank you for choosing to collaborate with us.
The role of food in sustaining human life and wellbeing cannot be overstated. As reflected in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, food stands as the most basic physiological requirement—an essential foundation upon which all other aspirations and human potentials are built. Yet, despite its fundamental nature, access to adequate and nutritious food remains elusive for millions across the globe. Distressingly, Africa continues to carry the heaviest burden of food insecurity, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for nearly one-third of the world’s food-insecure population. In Nigeria alone, more than 20 million people are currently experiencing at least “crisis-level” food insecurity, while 6.8 million face acute hunger. These statistics position Nigeria among the countries most severely affected on the continent, posing far-reaching implications for national stability, health, and socio-economic development.
Food insecurity is not merely an agricultural challenge—it is undeniably a matter of social justice. It disproportionately affects low-income groups and vulnerable households, and therefore sits at the heart of social work concerns and responsibilities. A growing body of evidence highlights the damaging effects of food insecurity on physical and mental health, childhood growth and development, educational performance, school retention, family cohesion, and community safety (Martinez & Kawam, 2014; Ragan & Dimitropoulos, 2017). As conditions worsen, every area of social work practice feels the strain: medical social workers confront increasing food-related illnesses; child and family social workers navigate the complex behavioural and developmental consequences of malnutrition; and community practitioners witness the ripple effects of hunger across neighbourhoods.
Compounding this crisis are escalating climate-related shocks, persistent farmer–herder conflicts, and ongoing insecurity that continue to displace agricultural communities. These dynamics, together with rising food prices, have severely constrained economic access to quality and nutritious food. In light of these realities, it has become imperative for social workers—alongside key stakeholders—to champion sustainable agricultural initiatives, support increased food production, strengthen nutrition systems, and advocate for equitable access to food for all, particularly the most vulnerable. Such efforts require multi-level strategies, including case management, community organization, research and education, policy advocacy, programme innovation, strategic partnerships, and intergenerational collaboration.
It is in this spirit of collective action and shared responsibility that the Department of Social Work, University of Lagos warmly welcomes you to the Food, Agriculture and Innovation Festival. We look forward to a meaningful engagement as we reflect, learn, and commit to advancing agriculture, food security, nutrition, and social wellbeing in our communities.
To my students and the community members present: Do not just sit and listen. Ask hard questions. Challenge the speakers.I want you to leave this hall not just as social workers, but as Social Innovators. I want you to start seeing yourselves as part of the food system—whether through policy advocacy, community mapping, or linking rural farmers to urban markets. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the soil is ready, and the seeds are here. It is time to plant.On behalf of the Department of Social Work, I wish us all a fruitful, engaging, and transformative agroween 2025 event. Thank you, and God bless you.
Prof. Samuel Ojima Adejoh
Professor and Head
Department of Social Work
University of Lagos, Akoka.