The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has conducted a baseline survey and needs assessment of 16 Agricultural Research Institutes and 17 Federal Colleges of Agriculture across Nigeria in a bid to revitalize the institutes to produce high-quality seeds essential for agricultural productivity, among others.
Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, disclosed this on Friday at a two-day Report Validation Meeting with the heads of these institutions in Abuja.
According to Ibrahim, the assessment, carried out in September 2024, was aimed at identifying the strengths, challenges, and opportunities within these institutions.
He described the current state of agricultural research institutes in Nigeria as deplorable, attributing their neglect to years of inadequate investment.
“We want to adopt a tailored approach rather than just interventions. Our goal is to leverage public sector funding to attract private sector investments and commercialize the outputs of these institutions,” he stated.
As part of efforts to strengthen these institutions, Ibrahim revealed that NADF had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a renewable energy firm to ensure uninterrupted power supply, alongside improved internet access.
He however, emphasized that priority attention would be given to research institutes and colleges focusing on food security crops.
Professor Garba Sharubutu, Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), hailed the initiative as the “rebirth of the agricultural research system in Nigeria.”
He noted that for over 25 years, no comprehensive baseline survey had been conducted to assess the state of agricultural research institutes and colleges in the country.
He stressed the critical role of research in food production and expressed optimism that with NADF’s support, these institutions would be revitalized to produce high-quality seeds essential for agricultural productivity.
Professor Lateef Oladimeji, one of the resource persons at the event, highlighted the potential of the findings to drive manpower development and technological advancement in agriculture.
“We are in the digital economy era, where drones can be deployed for herbicide application. Purposefully integrating such technologies into our research institutes and colleges will help mechanize farms and significantly boost agricultural yields,” he stated.
Oladimeji further emphasized that the initiative would pave the way for the development of new crop varieties and livestock breeds, while also creating opportunities for private sector investment in functional agricultural solutions.
The NADF initiative marks a significant step toward revitalizing Nigeria’s agricultural research landscape, with a focus on sustainability, commercialization, and technological integration.