An expert in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Emmanuel Fakoya, has announced the establishment of a ₦1m annual prize to reward the university’s best Farm Practical Year student in honour of his late father.

Fakoya, according to a statement on Thursday, made the announcement while delivering the university’s 110th inaugural lecture titled “Measurement and Scaling: Bedrock of Robust Agricultural Extension Research Analysis,” held at the Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun Ceremonial Building of the institution.

The lecturer, who also doubles as the Dean, College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development, explained that the prize was instituted to immortalise his late father, Pa Samuel Fakoya.

“I am instituting this ₦1m annual prize for the university’s best student in farm practical in honour of my late dad, Pa Samuel Fakoya.

“The prize, which will run for the next 10 years and will commence at the 34th convocation of the university, is aimed at promoting excellence in hands-on agricultural training and motivating outstanding performance among students enrolled in FUNAAB’s Farm Practical Year Programme,” he said.

While delivering the lecture, Fakoya advocated a paradigm shift in the formulation of agricultural policies in Nigeria.

He emphasised that interventions must be anchored on rigorous empirical evidence rather than anecdotal accounts to ensure effectiveness and sustainability.

According to him, critical sectors such as land management, livestock production, conflict resolution, and women’s empowerment continue to face challenges due to the absence of standardised measurement frameworks.

Fakoya stressed that without accurate and reliable tools, it would be difficult to objectively assess the true impact of extension programmes on rural livelihoods.

He maintained that participation, access, and empowerment must be measured using valid and reliable indices to guarantee inclusiveness and gender responsiveness in agricultural interventions.

Fakoya further underscored the need for a multidisciplinary approach, encouraging collaboration among agricultural economists, sociologists, statisticians, and extension experts.

He proposed that universities and research institutes should establish specialised centres dedicated to measurement and scaling studies to drive innovation and standardisation in research methodologies.

Highlighting the importance of advanced quantitative techniques, he recommended the institutionalisation of tools such as Likert scaling, factor analysis, and regression modelling to enhance predictive accuracy in extension research.

He added that sustained capacity building in data analytics and psychometrics for both professionals and students would be essential to achieving this goal.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, commended Fakoya for his scholarly contributions and described the lecture as timely and impactful.

Kehinde noted that strengthening research methodology and ensuring data credibility remain pivotal to advancing Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.