Prof. Onwualu Calls for Digital Revolution in Agricultural Engineering to Drive Food Security
Abuja, Nigeria — The President of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, has charged the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE) to embrace digital innovation as a critical pathway to achieving food security and national development.
Prof. Onwualu gave the charge while delivering the keynote address at the inauguration and swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected national executive of NIAE, held yesterday at the National Engineering Centre, Abuja. The new leadership is headed by Engr. Prof. Joseph Chukwuma Adama as National Chairman.
Speaking on the theme “Agricultural Engineering in the Era of Digital Transformation for Food Security in Nigeria: The Role of the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers,” Prof. Onwualu described Nigeria’s food security challenge as both urgent and full of opportunity. He noted that while the country is richly endowed with land, human capital and biodiversity, persistent issues such as low productivity, post-harvest losses, climate variability and supply chain inefficiencies continue to undermine the agricultural sector.
According to him, digital transformation—through the application of data science, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), precision mechanization, renewable energy systems and smart storage technologies—offers agricultural engineers a unique opportunity to redesign Nigeria’s food systems for resilience, efficiency and inclusiveness.
Prof. Onwualu emphasized that digital tools must go beyond theory and be translated into practical, scalable solutions tailored to Nigeria’s diverse agro-ecological realities. He highlighted precision farming, smart mechanization, post-harvest loss reduction, irrigation management, renewable energy integration and digital market access as critical areas where agricultural engineers can make measurable impact.
He further identified capacity building, standards and innovation, and advocacy and partnerships as three strategic pillars that should guide the new NIAE leadership. He urged the Institute to modernize training curricula, strengthen continuous professional development, lead the development of national engineering standards and provide evidence-based policy advice to government and development partners.
In a strong call to action, Prof. Onwualu encouraged the new executive to view challenges as opportunities for innovation, stressing that digital transformation must be inclusive and ethically driven to avoid widening inequalities between large-scale and smallholder farmers. He also underscored the importance of youth engagement and entrepreneurship in unlocking the future of digital agriculture in Nigeria.
Demonstrating AUST’s commitment to this vision, Prof. Onwualu announced his readiness to work with the newly inaugurated NIAE executive to establish an innovation grant award aimed at inspiring NIAE students to develop digital solutions to challenges across the agricultural value chain.
The event attracted agricultural engineers from across the country, many of whom openly acknowledged and extolled the far-reaching impact of Prof. Onwualu’s mentorship on their professional growth and careers.
The inauguration marked a new chapter for NIAE, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the Institute, under its new leadership, will play a pivotal role in advancing digital agricultural engineering and strengthening food security in Nigeria.