Senate Expands Global Push to Revamp Agricultural Institutions

–Engages Malaysia, EU, Brazil, China, Germany, India, UK ahead legislative summit

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate, through its Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, has broadened its international outreach, engaging key global partners, including Malaysia, the European Union, Brazil, China, Germany, India and the United Kingdom in a renewed push to transform Nigeria’s agricultural research and training ecosystem.

Chairman of the Committee, Sharafadeen Alli, according to a statement on Sunday, disclosed this during a series of high-level courtesy visits to diplomatic missions in Abuja, where he underscored the National Assembly’s resolve to harness global expertise, technology and investment to reposition Nigeria’s agricultural colleges and research institutes for sustainable development, enhanced productivity and job creation.

He said the engagements form part of preparations for the First National Legislative Summit and Expo on Agricultural Colleges and Research Institutions, slated for May 11 to 13, 2026 at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The statement issued by the committee and made available to journalists in Abuja explained the summit is designed to mobilise international support, strengthen institutional capacity and showcase innovations capable of accelerating agricultural transformation in Nigeria.

“Alli told his hosts the committee was deliberately reaching out to key global players in agriculture to build strategic alliances that would enhance research, promote technology transfer and boost mechanisation across Nigeria’s agricultural institutions,” the statement noted.

At the Malaysian High Commission, Alli engaged Aiyub Bin Omar, highlighting Malaysia’s global leadership in palm oil production and stressing that Nigeria stands to benefit significantly from its technological expertise and investment in agro-industrial value chains.

He said collaboration with Malaysia would support capacity building, infrastructure development and the adoption of modern, technology-driven farming techniques across Nigeria’s agricultural colleges.

During his visit to the European Union Delegation, the senator commended the bloc’s ongoing interventions in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, particularly in oil palm research, and expressed the committee’s readiness to leverage EU experience in addressing climate change, soil degradation and food security challenges.

He emphasised the need for Nigeria’s institutions to transition from conventional methods to innovative, sustainable agricultural practices that respond to evolving global realities.

At the Brazilian Embassy, Alli lauded Brazil’s success in building a highly productive agricultural system.

He told his host Carlos Garcete that Nigeria could replicate similar achievements through structured collaboration in mechanisation, irrigation, technology transfer and yield enhancement.

Expanding the scope of engagements, the senator also held discussions with representatives of China and Germany, focusing on advanced agricultural engineering, precision farming and research-driven innovation as critical areas for partnership.

At the Indian High Commission, he met with Abhishek Singh, exploring opportunities for collaboration in agro-technology, research exchange and capacity development, particularly in smallholder farming systems where India has recorded significant progress.

Similarly, at the British High Commission, as well as during interactions involving Paraguayan representatives, discussions centred on strengthening bilateral cooperation in agricultural education, research funding and institutional reforms.

Alli reiterated that agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda, with vast potential to generate employment, reduce poverty and improve rural livelihoods.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to enacting legislation that would deepen bilateral partnerships, support innovation and drive comprehensive reforms in the agricultural sector.

The senator expressed appreciation to the diplomatic missions for their continued engagement with Nigeria, urging them to play active roles in the forthcoming summit.

He added that the outcomes of the legislative summit would help shape national policy direction and provide a strategic roadmap for revitalising agricultural education and research institutions across the country.