By Mahdi Waziri Isa
The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed has declared the 2026 Annual Research Review and Planning Meeting of the Institute of Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria open.
The opening ceremony which was held on Tuesday, 28th April, 20226, at the Tanimu Balarabe Conference Hall of the Institute brought together major stakeholders and policy makers from the Agricultural sector from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, National Agricultural Research Institutes, Agricultural Development Projects, International Research Centres, Farmers’ Cooperatives, Agro-based industries and NGOs/CBOs.
The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Admin, Professor Sabo Bello, described the annual event as a “unique forum to chart the course of Agricultural development in Nigeria through the setting of priorities for Agricultural Research.”
The Vice-Chancellor said, “This year’s Annual Review Meeting with the theme “Mainstreaming Climate Change in Agriculture: Strengthening Food Security and Economic Stability under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” is apt, considering the realities of climate change which is affecting every sphere of life including the agricultural sector and its value chain.”
“It is therefore pertinent for participants and researchers to discuss the way forward to attaining not only food security but food sufficiency in the country through evolving research products that have a direct impact on society,” he added.
The Vice-Chancellor also stressed that curbing hunger and malnutrition is a task that must be carried out through “deliberate focus on problem solving research,” urging the participants to not only conduct research for publications but to alleviate the suffering of hungry Nigerians with practical solutions and developing technologies that addresses everyday needs of Nigerians.
Professor Ahmed also commended the Director IAR, Professor Ado A. Yusuf and his team, and congratulated them for sustaining the tempo of research in the institute, and taking the lead with over 20 new crop varieties registered for release by the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) last month in Ibadan, adding that this is a testament to the spirit of ABU being “Naturally Ahead” of others.
He concluded by thanking the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari CON., for supporting the institute in achieving some of its research mandates.
Requesting for more timely funding, the Vice-Chancellor said, “I wish to solicit more support in terms of funding and timely release of funds… Research in Agriculture requires timelines as inputs must get to the farms/fields as soon as the rains establish.”
“Every delay in input supply is a recipe for failure during the cropping season. Our teeming population of farmers depends so much on research results emanating from the Institute and must be treated with urgency,” he stressed.