NISS sensitizes UNN students on career opportunities in soil science

From Felix Ikem, Nsukka

First-year students in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have been sensitized by the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) on career opportunities in soil science.

The sensitization workshop which took place at the Old Agric Faculty Hall, UNN yesterday was facilitated by the Southeast Zonal Office of NISS domiciled at the Department of Soil Science in the University.

Prof Charles Asadu, the South East NISS Zonal Coordinator in a remark during the occasion said that the Institute is an agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Report Security, saddled with the responsibility of regulating the profession of soil science and promoting soil quality management in Nigeria.

He said that the aim of the sensitization workshop was to educate first-year students in the faculty of agriculture on basic knowledge of soil and its functions, career opportunities in Soil Science, as well as to correct the impression by some young ones that those who read soil science in higher institutions are likely to end up in farm as poor farmers.

“The motive of this programme is to sensitize these first-year students in the faculty of agriculture on job opportunities inherent in Soil Science and to influence career choices in the field.

“It is very important that we educate these young ones at this stage of their academic to enable them to know that there are various job opportunities in Soil Science more than any other course in the Faculty of Agriculture.

“Graduates of soil science can work in research institutes; oil and gas industries as polluted soil remediators; fertilizer and agrochemical industries, higher institutions and construction companies, ministry of agriculture, among others,” he said.

The NISS Zonal Coordinator said further that the Institute had earlier in the week visited some secondary schools in Nsukka Local Government Area on the same destination mission to deepen awareness of career opportunities in soil science and to influence career choices in the field among students in SS1, SS2, and SS3.

Also in a remark, Prof. Peter Ezeaku, Dean Faculty of Agriculture, UNN while commending NISS for the sensitization workshop said that the workshop has enlightened the young academics in the faculty on what soil science is all about, and had also triggered an elevated interest in studying and taking a career in soil science.

“The sensitization is very important for year one students in the Faculty because the idea was to catch them young when they are still at the level that they can switch to the soil science department.

“We are happy that the workshop had a great impact and many students have started indicating interest.

“We can not thank NISS enough for encouraging and motivating us towards conducting this sensitization workshop for students.

“So, it’s important to let the students know that Prof. Charles Igwe, the current Vice-chancellor of UNN, Prof Nnenna Oti, 8th Substantive Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Prof. Felix Salako, immediate pastor Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, among others, are soil scientist, and alumnus of UNN, so there is no limitation of what you will become in future as a graduate of soil science,” Prof. Ezeaku said.

Also speaking, Prof. Ifeyinwa Uzor, Head of Soil Science Department, UNN said that the sensitization workshop is a wonderful innovation given that many people do not know what soil science is all about.

“I am happy for this innovative and wonderful opportunity provided by NISS to sensitize the year one student in the faculty with what soil science is all about and the career opportunity inherent in it.

“Soil is one of the highest natural resources and it is the bedrock of agriculture, it is the beginning and the end of life, without soil there will be no life.

“With this workshop, the agitations in the mind of most year one students in the Soil science department, like: where do we work after graduation? has been cleared and they are now in the know about what awaits them as a soil scientist,” she said.

The students were lectured on the vision and mandate of NISS, functions of soil, people that manage soils, and soil study, as well as a brief on the scope of a Soil Scientist, Career prospects in the field, areas of specialization in Soil Science, Subject requirements to study soil science in higher institution, among others by Prof. Asadu, Prof. Ezeaku, and Prof. Uzor.

Responding on behalf of other students, Emmanuel Okpe, Crop Science Department thanked the NISS and the faculty management for the sensation workshop and described it as timely and educative.

“Yes, we need seminars like this at this level of our academic to be reassured that we are on the right track in our chosen courses and that there will be job opportunities in soil science after our graduation.

“I commend NISS and the Faculty for this wonderful lecture which is an eye-opener for all of us on what soil science is all about” he said.

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