Legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), 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.
Babalola made the call at the 10th edition of the Afe Babalola Agricultural Expo (ABAEX 2026) themed: “Al for Every Farmer: Farming Smarter, Producing More and Earning Better”, held at the university in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The legal icon 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 him, Nigeria must move beyond conventional farming methods and explore opportunities offered by technological advancement to increase agricultural output, create employment and generate wealth.
The founder said 2026 year’s expo, which marked the 10th edition of the initiative, provided a platform for farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, researchers and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge, showcase agricultural produce, establish business relationships and explore new investment opportunities.
He described ABAEX as more than an agricultural exhibition, noting that the initiative had evolved into a platform for innovation, enterprise development, networking and empowerment.
Babalola said the expo reflected the university’s belief that agriculture remained central to food security, job creation, wealth generation and national development.
He highlighted the role of AI in addressing some of the challenges confronting agricultural production, urging participants to explore practical ways of applying emerging technologies to farming operations.
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.
“At ABUAD, we believe that research must solve real problems, innovation must improve lives, and knowledge must ultimately reach the farm.
“Agriculture is not a profession of the past. It is a sector of the future, one where technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity can create tremendous opportunities”.
The highpoint of the event was the emergence of an Ekiti State farmer, Osanyindoro Sunday, as the overall best farmer at the 2026 Afe Babalola Agricultural Expo (ABAEX), winning a cash prize of N2 million donated by Aare Afe Babalola.
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.
Other highlights of the event were various empowerment programmes which included the training of 32 youths on the production of plantain chips.
