ACReSAL Team Strengthens Partnership with BUK Centre for Dryland Agriculture

The National Project Coordinator of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, Mr. AbdulHamid Umar, led a delegation to the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) at Bayero University, Kano, on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.

The visit aimed to reinforce the partnership between ACReSAL and CDA in addressing climate and land degradation challenges in Northern Nigeria.

ACReSAL, a World Bank-financed initiative, focuses on combating land degradation and mitigating climate change effects in 19 northern Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory. Mr. Umar praised CDA's management, infrastructure, and modern facilities, noting the collaboration's potential for achieving shared objectives.

CDA Director, Prof. Jibrin Mohammad Jibrin, welcomed the delegation, highlighting CDA's role as a leading African research and innovation hub. CDA has trained numerous students in master's and doctorate programs and thousands through short-term courses. Prof. Jibrin emphasized the Centre's commitment to exploring further collaborations with ACReSAL.

Prof. Jibrin shared CDA's history, from humble beginnings to becoming an Africa Centre of Excellence. Initial funding came from the MacArthur Foundation ($800,000) and the World Bank ($7 million in 2014). CDA now hosts the Pan-African PASET project, aiming to train 10,000 PhDs in agriculture, and attracts students from 15 African countries.

Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim, Kano ACReSAL Project Coordinator, commended CDA's collaboration, particularly in supporting internship programs. He assured CDA's involvement in training 500 beneficiaries in the agricultural value chain and consultation on establishing a Kano compost manure plant.

The visit concluded with a tour of CDA's laboratories and its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub, showcasing cutting-edge research. This partnership strengthens efforts to address climate and land degradation challenges in Northern Nigeria.