FULafia VC Calls for Government-Private Sector Partnership to Develop Digital Agriculture

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Prof. Shehu Abdul Rahman, has emphasized the need for stronger Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to develop agriculture in Nigeria.

He highlighted the importance of institutional coordination and shared investment in bridging the gap between smallholder farmers and technologically advanced agricultural systems.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that digital agriculture is not just about gadgets, but about transforming lives and moving Nigerian agriculture from subsistence to sustainability. He emphasized that the bridge to digital agriculture cannot be built by the public or private sector alone, but through strategic, intelligent, and equitable partnerships.

Prof. Abdul Rahman identified infrastructure deficits, institutional weaknesses, affordability barriers, and regulatory uncertainty as major challenges facing digital agriculture. He recommended the creation of an agricultural digital innovation council to coordinate stakeholders, establish national standards, and guide investment in the sector.

The Vice-Chancellor challenged Nigerian agricultural economists to provide effective partnership models to empower smallholder farmers. He emphasized that the future of Nigerian agriculture is digital, but only if it is inclusive and collaborative.