Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUTURAL EXTENSION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Prof. Caroline Obinedo ELENWA

Head of Department

AGRICUTURAL EXTENSION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development (AERD) was created out of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics/Extension in November 2017. It is one of the Departments in Faculty of Agriculture. The Department runs a five (5) year undergraduate programme that leads to the award of Bachelor of Agriculture (B. Agric.) degree in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development.

Besides, the Department also runs Postgraduate Programmes in Agricultural Extension Administration, Agricultural Extension Communication, Community and Rural Development and Rural Sociology. The Department started with forty-five year one undergraduate students, five pioneer academic staff and three non-academic staff. It currently has quiet over three hundred students from years one to five.

PROFILE OF THE HOD

Prof Caroline Obinedo Elewa is a Professor of Rural Sociology and Development. A Lecturer, Researcher, Consultant, Data Analyst and Resource Personnel. She has practical experience in Participatory Rural Appraisal, has over one hundred and fifty (150) refereed journal articles in both local & international, thirty (30) conference proceedings papers and attended and presented papers in several local & international conferences.

Prof. Elenwa is a member of Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN), Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON). Rural Sociological Association of Nigeria (RuSAN), Farm Management Association of Nigeria (FAMAN) and Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS).

RESEARCH INTEREST

Agricultural Extension, Youth and Women Development, Entrepreneurship, Rural Sociology, Rural and Community Development, Environmental Education and ICT.

QUALIFICATION

Ph.D Agricultural Extension (Rural Sociology and Development) UNN;

M.ScAgric Extension (Community Development), RSUST; B.Sc SECOND CLASS HONS (UPPER DIVISION) Agricultural Economics and Extension, RSUST

EMAIL/PHONE NUMBER

[email protected]

07031616233

Staff list in the Department

NAMES OF STAFF | RANK | AREA OF SPECIALIZATION | Email Elenwa, Caroline Obinedo | Professor | Agricultural Extension, Youth and Women Development, Entrepreneurship, Rural Sociology, Rural and Community Development, Environmental Education and ICT | [email protected] Isife, Benjamin Ifeanyichukwu | Professor | Agric. Extension, Agric. Administration | [email protected] Nlerum, Franklin Eziho | Professor | Agric. Production, Agric. Extension, Rural Sociology and Development. | [email protected] Harry, Ariamebo Tobin | Reader | Agricultural Extension Communication | [email protected] DR. OROKWU. CHUKUIGWE | Lecturer I | Community Development | [email protected] DR. MANOAH, EVETH ARTHUR | Lecturer l | Rural Sociology | [email protected] DR. ADOLPHUS, GOLD | Lecturer I | Rural Sociology and Development | [email protected] IHUNWO, CHISA BRIDGET | Lecturer I | Agricultural Extension Communication | [email protected] Iwedi, Kelechi John | Administrative Officer l | | [email protected] Elenwo, Waku Peggy | Principal Executive Officer | | [email protected] NKOMADU, HOPE CHINULE | Executive Officer | | [email protected] NWAOKORO, PEACE ALERUCHI | Senior Clerical Officer | |

Objectives

• The objectives are to train and produce professionally and technologically qualified persons to meet the professional man-power requirements of the state and Nigeria in general. Specifically, the programme is designed to produce trained manpower that will:

• i. Undertake formal training of personnel that perform the functions of transfer of agricultural innovations or technologies from the developers to farmers as well as taking

• ii. farmers’ problems and needs to agencies concerned (e.g. research institutes, universities, non-governmental organizations, parastatals, multi-national organizations, ministries and international development agencies).

• ii. Undertake informal training of farmers on modern technologies as well as adaptation and improvement of indigenous ones.

• iii. Undertake needs assessment of rural communities with a view to evolving appropriate agricultural and community development programmes.

• iv. Assist government and non-governmental organizations in the planning of agricultural and community development projects and programmes.

• v. Assist through educational and advisory processes, collaboration with community development agencies, improves the quality of rural life of the people in the neighbouring communities through outreach programmes.

• vi. Deal primarily with the ways of working with rural people to improve their living conditions.

• vii. Conduct research and to provide a comprehensive and adequate programme of higher education at undergraduate and Post graduate levels for leaders in the field of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMME

The fundamental philosophy of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development is to equip students with knowledge of Extension and Rural Development necessary for proper extension service delivery and community development activities in our country. Agricultural Extension starts with the concept of extension as an educational activity. The concept deals primarily with the purposes and ways of working with people both in rural and urban areas where change in attitude, knowledge and skills are most required while rural development is a process by which a set of technical, social, cultural and institutional measures are implemented for the inhabitants of rural areas with the aim of improving their socio-economic conditions.