Scholarship / Agricultural Economics as a course entails ground knowledge STUDYING IN THE UK QUESTION OF CHEVENING [2]

STUDYING IN THE UK QUESTION OF CHEVENING

Agricultural Economics as a course entails ground knowledge and practical application of statistical and economic theories in agricultural systems, firms and organizations. Agricultural Economics has various specialization in which Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security is one. I have selected Agricultural Economics in University of Reading, Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in University of Exeter and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Newcastle University. I have preferred these universities among others due to its high level of human, material and academic resources. I have chosen these courses and after going through the course modules, it aligned with my interest which would enable me perform excellently in the program. These courses would enable me comprehend the critical issues of food security and agricultural sustainability in Nigeria and to suggest recommendations. I also have a driving passion to be an academia, in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security.

Since my primary school days, my backyard was always used for food crop farming. I have always had that undivided attention for Agriculture. This gave me the drive to go study Agricultural Economics and Farm Management in the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria where I obtained a Bachelor of Agriculture (First Class Honors). I have been taught by competent lecturers in areas of Production Economics, Econometrics, Research Methodology, Food Security, Agricultural Sustainability, Development and Policy, Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Finance, Project Management, Farm Management and Accounting.

However, I was the Students' Coordinator during my internship in university days where I and my colleagues planted crops such as yam, vegetables, maize and cassava organically, reared livestock and sold to the local community. We ensured that the dwellers had access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food at all times. My final year project was in the field of Food and Consumer Economics where I researched on Households' Poverty Status and its Determinants in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government of Ogun State, Nigeria. Primary data was collected and analyzed to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the households, classify households into poverty status and the social and economic determinants of the household's poverty status were also analyzed.

I have a professional qualification in Health, Safety and Environment and Project Management. I am project proficient and creative in the use of Microsoft Office, Excel and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for data analysis. I have worked in the Systems Unit, University of Jos Library, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria during my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) where I gained ICT skills over the time which would be needful for me during the course of my study. I'm currently into poultry farming which I love to expand to a large scale in order to meet the demands of food security and agricultural sustainability in my country.

Scholarship / "The great achiever". LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENCE QUESTION OF CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP [2]

LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENCE QUESTION OF CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP

There was a time in my life when I didn't step the floors of a school for two good terms due to financial struggles. I was registered in a primary school in no time and after the third term of that academic session, my academic potential was discovered. I performed excellently in my primary and secondary school days and even represented my school in state and national competitions. This made me gain admission into the university to study Agricultural Economics and Farm Management in 2009. Even though the Nigerian economy was dependent on crude oil and not agriculture as that time. Many people looked down on agriculture, so I was advised to study a more tangible course in school, I made up my mind that I was going to be a leader and an influential person in my chosen endeavor. I have leadership skills that can influence people in my career and society.

During my university days, I engaged myself as a part-time tutor in Greater Grace Tutorial Center, as a leader, you must be vision developer, I made the students realize their goals early in life, encouraged them to take their studies and never allow social vices to ruin their education because they are the future leaders of Nigeria. Individualization was done also as I gave personal counseling and mentor-ship.

In 2012/2013, I was the female coordinator during my Farm Practical Year in Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State and where I led 210 students. It was a whole lot of commitment; the farm was in a core rural area, Iwoye-Ketu, a village in the outskirt of the country with challenging norms. During the Easter break of 2013, students traveled to town for Easter yuletide. I had to stay back in the village in order to attend to the livestock (pullets, rabbits, goats, fishes) in terms of giving them feeds, administering vaccines, putting them to constant check and taking stock of all farm activities.

In 2015/2016, during my National Youth Service Corps in Plateau State, I made a significant and innovative mark in the sand of time in the University of Jos Library by setting the pace for digitization of administrative records where I began this activity with the library staffs in an organized and sustainable manner. At this period, I was also the Music Director of Deeper Life Corpers' Fellowship, I motivated the members of the fellowship, and the number of choristers increased from three to eight.

On the 25th of August, 2016, I spoke as one of the guest speakers for the program, "Meet the Achievers" in my church where about 1000 youths were gathered. I made a positive influence that day because my citation was read to them and how I made my first class honors at age 22. I encouraged them that they can reach and achieve their goals in life no matter their current predicaments. I became a role model after the program as my name changed to "the great achiever".

Scholarship / Networking is a form of mutual interaction for the aim of connections or personal advancements [2]

CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP: NETWORKING QUESTION

Chevening is looking for individuals with strong networking skills who will engage with the Chevening community ...

Networking is a form of mutual interaction for the aim of connections or personal advancements to develop one's career. Networking goes beyond the wonders of technology, it deals with excellent interpersonal and communication skills which I have gained over time. My journey of networking started as an Assistant Head of Class and Female Farm Coordinator in my university days, familiarizing myself with my colleagues, senior colleagues, lecturers and researchers was the first thing I did because I couldn't work independently. Through this, I was able to share the vision I have with them and how the goals of the department can be attained. I communicated the needs of my level mates to the Agricultural Economics Students Association. I was able to work closely with my lecturers who were able to guide me because they were more experienced in my field and that enabled me to develop my research skills.

During my National Youth Service Corps in the Systems Unit, University of Jos Library, Plateau State, Nigeria, my networking skills enabled me to reach out to the students and staffs in the university through Information and Communication Technology. As one of the organizers for the impacting seminar titled "Open Access for Open Collaboration'', I gave personal demonstration and assistance to the attendees. Major presentations given were Open Access Resources: Basic Challenges, Benefits and Retrievals Processes, Electronic Databases: A Supplement to print Based Resources, Online Tools for Collaborative Learning, Mobile Application for 21st Century. The Open Access Resources enable free availability and unrestricted use of research and scholarship, the challenges identified were professional skills, inadequate knowledge of open access by the university community, low commitment, internet access, journal's quality, bypass of peer review and doubts about honesty.

The attendees were duly informed about the academic and economic benefits of Open Access Resources. Information can be assessed from any site with wireless connection, equity of learning in poor and rich nations and they can enjoy savings from switching to Open Access Models as the basis for scholarly communication. There was intellectual stimulation at the end of the seminar; questions were entertained for the advancement of the university in research. We however made them understand that these Open Access Resources is of significant value for teaching, learning and research purpose and that being free to access doesn't necessarily mean they are easy to find, they have to pay for them.

On the 29th of July, 2016, I attended a short training in Saroafrica International Company consisting of the Subsidiaries (Saro-Agrollied, Saro-Agrosciences, Saro-Lifecare, Saro-Pharma, and Agri-seed Co) where I and my fellow associates met with the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Rasheed Sarumi and other managing directors of the Saro group. He spoke about the company's values, mission and vision and he got diverse ways of defining success from us as a way of improving lives from farms to homes. With my current employment as a logistics personnel in True Rebel Company, I build close network with the various departments and that has indirectly improved the health of our clients by buying our brands which include slim tea, flat tummy tea that are produced from natural and herbal products which are free from chemical exudates.

It is a great opportunity to be a member of the Chevening community; it will be an avenue to meet with other Chevening scholars from various countries who are agriculture inclined. I will be devoted to encourage and assist other scholars who are less privileged to further their education. It will a chance to share ideas, knowledge and learn from experiences which I can adopt to ensure agricultural sustainability and food security in Nigeria.

The essay is pretty long, I will still shorten it.