Minister of Education Mal. Adamu Adamu has charged Researchers in the field of Agriculture to attract market value on their research findings to enhance Agri-business and food security.
Mal. Adamu Adamu, who gave the charge at the Centenary Celebration of Samaru College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, ABU Zaria, was concerned about how numerous research works especially in the field of agriculture have continued to die low in the bookshelves of such scholars.
The Minister, represented by the Director of University Education in the ministry, Hajiya Ruqayya Iliyasu said gone were the days when researchers would largely depend on government funding to project their work.
He, therefore, tasked them to find a way of stepping their findings to the grassroots to boost maximum production of farm outputs for food security in the country.
Earlier, in a remark, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kabir Bala assured commitment to transform the college into a befitting institute of agriculture that can compete favourably with its pairs internationally.
He said during the 100 years of its existence, the college had trained prominent agric giants including former Gambian President, Sir Dauda Jawara as well as innovated various research that contributed to the general development of agriculture.
Prof. Bala pledged to construct a state-of-the-art lecture theatre for students to facilitate additional learning space in the college.
Also speaking, the Director, Division of Agricultural Colleges, ABU Zaria, Prof. Musa Abdullahi Mahadi said the institute was the first of its kind in northern Nigeria and the only second to Ibadan in the whole country had made significant contributions in the training of middle-level manpower mostly in agricultural Extension services.
He also said the college-trained highly experienced extension workers that were also excellent administrators and civil servants who not only performed the duty of transmitting the improved husbandry techniques to our farming populace but also became seasoned administrators.
Prof. Mahadi pledged to develop more academic programs that can enable students to meet up the global challenges in agriculture.
Cov/ Ibrahim Suleiman, Zaria
