The Nigerian Plant Breeders Association (NPBA) has conferred a fellowship award on Professor Chiedozie Egesi, Executive Director, National Roots Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike for his exceptional contributions to plant breeding and his pivotal role in advancing agricultural research in Nigeria.
Professor Egesi received the award during the Award Conferment Ceremony at the ongoing 2nd International Conference of NPBA on Wednesday in Abuja.
The prestigious Pioneer Fellowship Awardee has been a leading force in the field of root and tuber crop research with a distinguished academic background, including a Ph.D. from the University of Ibadan, and extensive experience as a global project director for the NextGen Cassava Breeding project.
He has made significant strides in modernizing cassava breeding and enhancing crop resilience. His innovative work has led to the development and release of several improved varieties of cassava and yam, addressing critical challenges such as stress tolerance and nutritional quality.
Professor Egesi, speaking during his address in his capacity as President, NPBA, said plant breeding and agricultural innovation will continue to drive progress in Nigeria’s food security efforts and sustainable agriculture.
Also, Barrister Richard-Mark Mbaram, Consultant at the African Development Bank (AfDB) lauded NPBA for its contributions to food security and nutrition improvement in Nigeria.
In his Goodwill Message, Mbaram emphasized the role of plant breeders in addressing the challenges posed by global warming and climate change.
He highlighted the importance of developing improved and resilient seed varieties that can withstand the adverse effects of these environmental factors.
He also recognised the distinguished researchers and participants who were present, stating that the ongoing collaboration and engagement at the event demonstrated the association’s commitment to innovation and progress in the agricultural sector.
“This gathering is a fantastic undertaking,” Mbaram remarked. “It seeks directly to address the issues that we need to tackle in ensuring food security for our populace, and also nutrition security, which is itself connected to the health security of our nation.”
He stressed that the work of plant breeders is essential to the country’s agricultural growth and resilience while expressing optimism about the future of plant breeding in Nigeria and called for increased financial support to maximize the outcomes of the NPBA’s activities.
“We want to receive requests from you for funding support so that we can ensure that you get maximum output from your activities,” he said, adding that such investments would help the country develop improved and resilient seed varieties to combat the effects of climate change.
Furthermore, Mbaram noted the Federal Government’s National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket development (NAGS-AP) supported by the AfDB, which he described as an initiative aimed at improving productivity across six major commodity value chains including; wheat, cassava, maize, sorghum, and rice. This scheme, he explained, was designed to provide necessary support to farmers, ensuring they could overcome the challenges of climate change and achieve sustainable food production.
Referencing the recent devastating floods in Borno state, Mbaram reiterated the importance of resilient seed varieties developed by plant breeders, while encouraging NPBA to keep up its efforts to promote agricultural development and ensure food security in Nigeria.