Not many may know much about the new Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, but the revered politician is already elevating the work done by his predecessor; Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.

Here’s a brief insight to who Audu Ogbeh is and what we can expect from him in the coming  years.

Ogbeh who is 68 years was born on July 28, 1947, in Otukpo, Benue State, of Idoma background. He attended King’s College, Lagos (1968), then studied at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1969) and the University of Toulouse, France  (1974). He lectured at the Institute of Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1976) and headed the Department of Humanities, Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology (1979).

His political career began in 1979 when he ran for office in the Benue State House of Assembly. In 1982 he was appointed Federal Minister of Communications, and later became Minister of Steel Development. His term of office ended in December 1983 when a military coup brought Major-General Muhammadu Buhari to power.

In 2001 he was appointed National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). By December 2005, Ogbeh formally resigned from the PDP. As of 2009, he was chairman and managing director, Efugo Farms, Makurdi, and a member of Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships Incorporated, based in Philadelphia. Until he was called back into office by current President Behari to serve as the current Food Minister.

Cheif OGbeh is passionate about the agricultural industry and would o well to make advancements on the previous work laid by his predecessor.

“I want to appreciate the immediate past minister for giving a good foundation, he made very brilliant efforts,” he said.

Speaking at a welcome ceremony in the ministry, Ogbeh said oil and gas, though mismanaged, had served the country well over the years, saying that the ministry now have a new burden to carry, as agriculture is the only option left to grow the economy.

He also said young people would be encouraged in all categories of agricultural production.

“We import milk into this country to a tone of 1.3 billion dollars a year, some of it not very good; why can’t we produce milk if Uganda and Kenya are doing it?”