The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, has expressed deep disappointment over the declining performance of the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), issuing a stern directive for the institute to prove its relevance within six months or face decisive restructuring.
Speaking during an address to NAPRI staff and management, Prof. Ahmed said the institute’s performance in recent years had fallen far below expectations in terms of research output, innovation, and national relevance, describing the situation as both “an institutional embarrassment and a national disservice.”
He announced that the university had declared a state of emergency on NAPRI, emphasizing that the decision was not driven by sentiment but by necessity.
According to him, the university expects to see visible changes within six months in areas such as research activity, staff engagement, partnerships with government and industry, and income generation.
“Time is running out. The nation is watching. The university is watching. And history will not forgive us if we allow this once-proud institute to continue to decline under our leadership,” the Vice-Chancellor stated.
Prof. Ahmed stressed that NAPRI, one of the most strategic research institutions within the ABU system and Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, was “too important to fail.”
He noted that with the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the launch of the National Livestock Reform Programme, NAPRI should naturally be at the forefront of research breakthroughs, technology innovation, and policy support for sustainable livestock productivity.
He lamented, however, that the institute had been plagued by inertia, weak internal coordination, and underutilized facilities, resulting in its diminished visibility and national relevance.
To address these issues, the Vice-Chancellor inaugurated a seven-member reform committee chaired by Prof. J.K.P. Kwaga of ABU’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The committee was tasked with examining the root causes of NAPRI’s decline, engaging stakeholders, and recommending urgent reforms in administration, staffing, funding utilization, and research direction to restore the institute’s excellence and relevance.
