The appointment of Audu Ogbeh as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development was greeted with high commendations from a broad segment of the populace – even the youth who are believed to have little interest in the agricultural sector were seen to approve judging by their comments on the social media. Ogbeh is known for being a man of strong opinions and standards, an attribute which was clearly admitted by the man himself when he was appointed Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in 2001; “I do have views of my own and most people who know me know that I have never been able to very cheaply compromise on those views. I do not intend to bully the President and the Vice President, but I intend to reason with them and between all of them, at one time or the other, they will bow to superior argument.” He however has his work cut out for him. “The new Minister is going to be faced with an uphill task given the commendable performance of his predecessor who truly transformed many aspects of the country’s agricultural sector” volunteered Dr. Graham Hefer, Managing Director of Okomu Oilpalm Company Plc, a major agribusiness concern operating out of Edo State in the South of Nigeria. According to Hefer, the choice of a practicing farmer as successor to a high flying technocrat is clear evidence of an intention to consolidate on the gains of the ATA, but he pointed out that “more work lies ahead”.

“Now that a farmer is the minister of agriculture, it means that he will understand the terrain and set achievable agendas that will move the sector forward” is how Mr. Sotonye Anga, National Publicity Secretary of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) chose to respond to the new appointment.

It is then safe to say that the emergence of Audu Innocent Ogbeh as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development will create positive impacts on not just the agricultural policies of the Nation (the big picture) but also influence the average farmer. Chief Ogbeh has a wealth of experience in the academic field as a Lecturer at the Institute of Education, Ahmadu Bello University (1972-1976)  Head, Department of Humanities, Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology, now Benue State Polytechnic, (1977- 1979),  also as a politician having ran for the Benue state assembly and emerged Deputy Speaker in 1979, appointed Federal Minister of Communications in 1982 and later Minister of Steel development. Add that to his PDP National Chairmanship in 2001 and after his resumption as Managing Director of Efugo Farms, Makurdi and Audu Ogbeh will be easily described as a ‘master of all.’

After his emergence as the new face of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Ogbeh promised to focus intensely on agricultural research and marketing in order to reduce importation of food and increase self-sustenance in Nigeria. With  the success of Efugo farms and the good record he has set In the past, Nigerians believe we have a man that will deliver in the agricultural sector and stay true to the course set by the immediate past Minister, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina – now President of the African Development Bank Group.

Born on the 28th of July, 1947 in Otukpo, Benue state, Ogbeh started his education at St. Francis Primary School in 1956 and then went on to St. Michael’s Secondary School, Alaide in 1962, moved to King’s College, Lagos in 1967 and obtained his university education at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1972-1976. He attended the University of Toulouse from 1973-1974 and is a fellow of the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships Incorporated, Philadelphia, U.S.A.