On Thursday, 20th March 2025, at the United Nations House in Abuja, President Jayeoba, paid a courtesy call on representatives from UNESCO, FAO, and NIRSAL to discuss breakthroughs in partnership for capacity building in agriculture and food security. The meeting highlighted ADAN's growth into a consortium of over 100 universities, prompting the international bodies to agree to work together to enhance capacitating farmers and stakeholders.

The meeting, which was attended by top officials from the three international organizations, marked a significant milestone in ADAN's efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and food security in Nigeria. President Jayeoba presented a comprehensive report on ADAN's achievements and plans, which impressed the representatives.

"We are committed to supporting ADAN's efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and food security in Nigeria," said the representative from UNESCO, noting that the partnership will have a significant impact on the lives of farmers and rural communities in Nigeria. The representative from FAO added, "We are impressed by ADAN's growth and achievements, and we look forward to working together to promote sustainable agriculture and food security in Nigeria."

In another development, President Jayeoba followed up on a position paper at the National Agricultural Development Fund's Office, requesting a needs assessment of agricultural facilities. The response was positive, with ADAN invited to discuss the framework for the needs assessment. This move is part of ADAN's efforts to rebuild relationships and foster sustainable collaborations.

In addition, the President, along with some Deans met with the new Permanent Secretary (FMAFS), Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi on 27th February 2025 to follow up with actions required on the approval of the NCAFS to support upgrading the job entry point of agriculture graduate to Grade Level 10.

Recall that on the 11th & 12th of May 2022, President Jayeoba led by the Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees, accompanied by the Executive Council (EXCOs), paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (now Agriculture and Food Security), Executive Secretary (National Universities Commission), Executive Secretary (Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria), Executive Secretary (Tertiary Education Trust Fund), among others to (re) build the Association’s relationships and foster more robust sustainable collaborations.

During the calls, ARCN approved the request of the Association for an Office Secretariat at the Council Building. Furthermore, TETFund agreed with ADAN to establish commodity-based Centres of Excellence in universities and create agriculture and food security sub-theme for the National Research Funds henceforth instead of limiting applicants to the cross-cutting subfield, which marginalized agriculture-based research proponents. ADAN’s intervention has facilitated more successful NRF and Institution-Based Research (IBR) proposals and awardees.

The courtesy call was an opportunity to support the 5 year B. Agriculture Degree Programme rather than the unbundling, fraught with worrisome deficiencies and unprofessionalisation of agriculture education in the country.

Reminiscing, ADAN has been pinpointedly focused on its vision and objectives, driving campaign for professionalization, proper job entry point for its graduates, and collaboration on modernization of skilling and agripreneurship. The President's efforts have been yielding positive results, with ADAN's collaboration with Soilless Farm Lab-MasterCard Foundation funded Enterprise Youths in Agriculture (EYiA) facilitating dignified employment and wealth creation for young farmers.

On November 11-15, 2024, at the International Convention Centre, Calabar, Cross Rivers State, President Jayeoba presented a Memorandum to the 46th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security, chaired by the Honourable Minister, FMAFS, prayers that were all approved. The approval led to the position papers requesting the Minister to facilitate the auditing of the Agribusiness Centre to make all of them operational, instead of a few. Furthermore, there is an ongoing discussion with the Ministry to consider providing modernized tractors and implements to our faculties for massive mechanization, technical capacity training of students, and for food security.

With these developments, ADAN is poised to play a significant role in promoting sustainable agriculture and food security in Nigeria.

Joe Atungwu
Secretary