IBADAN – The Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions has unveiled plans to overhaul Nigeria’s agricultural education and research system as part of efforts to address food insecurity and boost job creation nationwide.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, disclosed this during a media parley in Ibadan on Monday ahead of the maiden National Legislative Summit and Expo on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions.
The summit, scheduled to hold from Tuesday to Friday, is themed: “Unfolding the Potential of Agricultural Colleges and Institutions through Collaboration and Innovation to Enhance Food Security and Job Creation.”
Alli said the committee had initiated diplomatic engagements with countries including Malaysia, Brazil, China, Germany, India and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union, to facilitate technology transfer, investment and training aimed at modernising Nigeria’s agricultural education system.
According to him, the committee is determined to transform agricultural institutions from theory-driven centres into practical, innovation-focused hubs capable of delivering tangible results.
“The era of treating agricultural education as purely academic is over. Our goal is to ensure that between 60 and 70 percent of training focuses on practical areas such as crop production, livestock and agribusiness,” he said.
The senator also disclosed that the committee was reviewing existing laws guiding the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) to improve the efficiency of more than 16 affiliated research institutes and align their operations with Nigeria’s food security agenda.
He added that the Senate was supporting the establishment of specialised institutions, including the proposed Federal College of Agriculture in Shani, Borno State, to deepen agricultural development in underserved areas.
“Despite logistical challenges, the committee has continued to engage heads of agricultural agencies to ensure that over 35 research institutes contribute meaningfully to national food security goals.
“Our focus remains on producing skilled manpower that can bridge the gap between agricultural research and practical farming,” Alli stated.
Also speaking, Executive Director of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Professor Muhammed Attanda, described the summit as timely, saying Nigeria urgently required a stronger legislative framework to drive agricultural development.
He lamented that agricultural research institutions in the country lacked adequate visibility despite producing globally competitive innovations.
“We have outstanding products and innovations that can compete globally, but we lack the platform to showcase them effectively to Nigerians,” he said.
Acting Executive Director of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Dr Adedeji Abiodun, stressed that government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of agricultural development.
He called for stronger collaboration between Nigerians and research institutions to revive the nation’s agricultural research centres.
“We need support and collaboration, as research institutions require adequate resources to function effectively and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.
Similarly, Acting Executive Director of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Professor Oluwatosin Gabriel, underscored the importance of research in national development.
He noted that although Nigeria possessed highly skilled researchers, foreign countries benefited more from their expertise than the country itself.
“What agriculture urgently needs is stronger legislative and executive support. While the Federal Government can provide policy frameworks, states also have critical roles to play, especially in providing land and implementing development initiatives,” Gabriel said.
