The Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions will hold a three-day maiden National Legislative Summit And Expo on Agricultural Colleges And Institutions (South-West Zone), in a move to ensure food security in Nigeria.
Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, said this at a media parley held on Monday at the Dapo Aderogba Hall of the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Iyaganku, Ibadan, ahead of the summit.
The theme of the summit is “Unfolding The Potentials of Agricultural Colleges And Institutions Through Collaboration and Innovation To Enhance Food Security And Job Creation.”
He further disclosed that the Senate Legislative summit and expo will hold from 12-15 May, 2026 at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.
He added that the maiden Senate legislative summit on agriculture will be in strong collaboration with farmers, agricultural colleges and research institutions in the South-West.
Senator Alli lamented the widening disconnect between local farmers and agricultural colleges and research institutions in Nigeria.
Saying the obvious, he declared that it was sad that many farmers remained unaware of modern innovations and improved seedlings developed by agricultural researchers.
Senator Alli cited improved cocoa varieties capable of fruiting within 18 months as against the traditional seven years, alongside newly-developed cassava species, as examples of innovations yet to reach many local farmers.
According to him, the summit was aimed at bringing together agricultural colleges and research institutions, development partners, embassies and policymakers to the table to deliberate on food security, agricultural legislation, research collaboration and youth empowerment.
Also speaking, Executive Director of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Professor Mohammed Lawal Atanda, described the Senate summit as the first of its kind in the Nigerian agricultural research sector.
According to him, the event would strengthen legislative frameworks and provide a roadmap for sustainable development in agricultural colleges, research and training institutions.
Atanda noted that agricultural colleges and institutions in Nigeria have highly-skilled professionals and globally-recognised innovations, but suffer from inadequate visibility and coordination.
In his contribution, Acting Executive Director of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Dr Adedeji Abiodun Rasheed, called for greater private sector involvement in funding research and development.
He noted that government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of revitalising research institutions, urging companies and entrepreneurs benefiting from agricultural products to support research efforts.
Rasheed maintained that Nigeria still has the manpower and expertise needed to restore the lost glory of its agricultural colleges and institutions.
Similarly, Professor Oluwatosin Gabriel of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) stressed that research remained central to national development and food security.
He commended Senator Alli for initiating the summit and championing a legislation aimed at strengthening agricultural research and policy implementation nationwide.
The summit will feature First Lady Oluremi Tinubu as the Special Guest of Honour, with discussions focusing on food production, research commercialisation, youth empowerment, international partnerships and sustainable agricultural development.
