The Nigerian Senate has intensified efforts to overhaul the country’s agricultural colleges and research institutions by engaging key global partners for reforms, technology transfer, and fresh investments.
Leading the initiative is the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, chaired by Sharafadeen Alli, which has opened strategic discussions with countries including Malaysia, the European Union, Brazil, China, Germany, India, and the United Kingdom.
Speaking during high-level visits to diplomatic missions in Abuja, Alli underscored the National Assembly’s determination to tap into global expertise to enhance productivity, strengthen capacity, and generate employment across the agricultural value chain.
The engagements are part of preparations for the maiden National Legislative Summit and Expo on Agricultural Colleges and Research Institutions, scheduled for May 11 to 13 at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan.
According to a statement from the committee, the summit aims to rally international support, reinforce institutional frameworks, and showcase innovations capable of accelerating Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.
Alli explained that the outreach is designed to forge strategic alliances with leading agricultural nations, focusing on research collaboration, mechanisation, and modern farming techniques.
During a visit to the Malaysian High Commission, he highlighted Malaysia’s global leadership in palm oil production, noting Nigeria’s potential gains from its expertise in agro-industrial development and value chain optimisation.
At the European Union delegation, the lawmaker welcomed ongoing interventions in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, particularly in oil palm research, while calling for expanded cooperation to tackle climate change, soil degradation, and food security challenges.
Similarly, discussions at the Brazilian Embassy centred on replicating Brazil’s highly productive agricultural model through partnerships in mechanisation, irrigation, and yield improvement.
Engagements with China and Germany focused on advancing agricultural engineering, precision farming, and research-driven innovation, while talks with India explored opportunities in agro-technology, research exchange, and smallholder farming development.
Meetings with representatives of the United Kingdom and Paraguay also examined avenues for strengthening bilateral ties in agricultural education, research funding, and institutional reforms.
Reaffirming agriculture as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic diversification drive, Alli stressed its vast potential for job creation, poverty reduction, and rural development.
He also called on diplomatic missions to actively participate in the upcoming summit, expressing confidence that it would shape future policies and provide a roadmap for revitalising agricultural institutions nationwide.
