Adebayo Adenrele
An Ekiti State farmer, Osanyindoro Sunday, has emerged the overall best farmer at the 2026 Afe Babalola Agricultural Expo (ABAEX), winning a cash prize of N2 million donated by the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN.
The award was one of the major highlights of the 10th edition of the agricultural expo, held at the university in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Receiving the award, Osanyindoro commended Babalola for his sustained investment in agriculture and his commitment to encouraging farmers, describing the legal luminary’s intervention in the sector as worthy of emulation.
He urged Nigerians to emulate Babalola’s commitment to agriculture, stressing that the country would witness significant development if more citizens and influential Nigerians invested in farming and supported agricultural development.
Earlier, Legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola has called for the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies in agriculture to boost food production, improve farmers’ earnings and strengthen Nigeria’s food security.
The legal icon, represented by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, said the increasing importance of technology in modern farming required farmers, researchers, agricultural entrepreneurs and young people to embrace innovative approaches capable of improving productivity, strengthening decision-making and making agriculture more profitable.
According to her, Nigeria must move beyond conventional farming methods and explore opportunities offered by technological advancement to increase agricultural output, create employment and generate wealth.
His words, “Our message is clear: agriculture must be treated not merely as subsistence, but as a business, an investment and a pathway to prosperity.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this year’s ABAEX also brings an important dimension to our agricultural conversation- Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“The world is changing rapidly, and agriculture must change with it. We must increasingly ask not only how to produce more, but how to farm smarter, produce more and earn better”.
