Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu, erudite Professor of African Economic History, is billed to present the lead paper on the theme, “Food Insecurity and the Challenges of Farmers-Herders Conflict in Nigeria: The Way Forward”.

An astute and painstaking researcher, and an alumnus of the University of Calabar, he is a steering pilot in academic affairs, especially when it concerns Africa and its economic history.

The paper, which will be delivered on Thursday, April 29, 2021 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja by 7:00 p.m., will have a robust discussion segment alongside other discussants from across the country. The forum will create a platform for all relevant stakeholders to engage in this interactive open discourse to deliberate and posit appropriate, practical, implementable, and enduring solutions to the festering crisis confronting our nation.

The event which is part of activities to mark the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper’s 12th Anniversary, Annual Awards and Lecture Series is in line with her tradition of rewarding merit and encouraging patriots to do more for a better country and better living standard for Nigerians. The event which will enjoy a live coverage on national television and radio stations, will be moderated by Dr. Amaechi Anaekwe, presenter of AIT’s ‘Focus Nigeria’.

Recall that in recent times, violent crimes, including kidnapping for ransom and recurring farmers-herders clashes in some states of the federation have assumed an alarming dimension in terms of loss of lives and property. This has resulted in subsistence/large-scale farmers and herders withdrawing in fear from their farms thus the adverse effects on economic activities especially agricultural productivity, a key pillar in the nation’s drive towards a diversified economy.

Ochefu, who is the Secretary to the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, is a Professor of African Economic History and was the Speaker at the Historical Society of Nigeria conference held at the Benue State University in October 2017. He is a former Vice Chancellor of Kwararafa University, Taraba State, Nigeria and also the president of the University of Calabar Alumni Association. He has numerous academic publications which are on the open educational resources platforms including Academia.edu and he co-edited Studies in the History of Central Nigeria Area/with Aliyu A. Idrees in 2002.