Nigeria recently completed a comprehensive evaluation of its agricultural research system, bridging a forty-year gap and initiating efforts to revitalize research institutes and colleges of agriculture across the country. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, announced this milestone during the technical session for the validation of the NADF Baseline Survey and Needs Assessment of Agricultural Research Institutes and Federal Colleges of Agriculture in Abuja.
Abdullahi highlighted the significance of this evaluation, noting that the last system-wide assessment of the National Agricultural Research System was carried out before President Shehu Shagari’s Green Revolution. He commended the NADF for leading this initiative and emphasized the importance of upgrading research and training infrastructure to drive growth in the agricultural sector.
The Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, revealed that the evaluation encompassed 16 agricultural research institutes and 17 colleges of agriculture. Ibrahim described the state of these institutions as deplorable due to years of neglect, but expressed optimism about the government’s renewed commitment to address these challenges.
Prof. Garba Sharubutu, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, hailed the assessment as a “rebirth” of the agricultural research system in the country, emphasizing the need for investments in research and innovation to achieve food security and poverty alleviation.
Lateef Sanni, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, stressed the crucial role of research institutes in addressing Nigeria’s food security challenges and called for increased funding and infrastructure upgrades. He noted that while funding under the Renewed Hope Agenda has improved, more support is necessary to modernize research facilities.
As part of the reform efforts, NADF has forged partnerships to enhance research facilities, including collaborations with renewable power companies and internet service providers to improve infrastructure and connectivity for these institutions.