FUNAAB, RIKE-SD Strengthen Partnership to Commercialise and Expand FUNAAB-Alpha

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), is set to deepen its collaboration with the Research, Innovation, Knowledge, Enterprise, Commercialisation and Sustainable Development (RIKE-SD) to commercialise and expand FUNAAB-Alpha, the university’s indigenous poultry breeding innovation.

The strategic engagement, held on September 30, 2026, preceded the working visit of the Minister of Livestock Development, Hon. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, to FUNAAB.

During the ministerial visit, the Federal Government expressed its readiness to support the commercialisation and expansion of FUNAAB-Alpha as part of efforts to strengthen livestock genetics and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported breeding stock.

Receiving the RIKE-SD delegation, led by its Team Lead, Research and Innovation, Dr. Luqman Popoola, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to deepening the partnership.

Prof. Kehinde particularly highlighted the importance of promoting the sustainability, commercial viability and wider adoption of FUNAAB-Alpha.

He appreciated RIKE-SD for its longstanding collaboration with the university and described FUNAAB-Alpha as a home-grown poultry breeding innovation with significant potential to contribute to the development of Nigeria’s livestock industry.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that the initiative had moved beyond the funding stage, making sustainability and commercial expansion the current priorities.

He assured the delegation that FUNAAB was ready and capable of strengthening the partnership, expressing optimism that the renewed engagement would create additional opportunities in research, innovation, enterprise development and agricultural commercialisation.

Earlier, Dr. Popoola described RIKE-SD as an organisation focused on advancing research, innovation, knowledge, enterprise, commercialisation and sustainable development.

He highlighted the organisation’s longstanding collaboration with FUNAAB in indigenous poultry breeding, production and research through the FUNAAB-Alpha initiative.

Dr. Popoola also disclosed that RIKE-SD was exploring opportunities to broaden its collaboration with the university through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (LPRES) project, which could provide additional opportunities for scaling up the commercial potential of FUNAAB-Alpha.

The RIKE-SD delegation included Mr. Jamaldeen Lawal, Products Development Lead, and Alhaji Musbau Kolapo, Managing Director of Muskol Global Logistics Ltd., an innovation enthusiast and prospective private-sector partner.

Other university officials present at the meeting were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olusegun Idowu; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Olawale Dairo; Registrar, Dr. Titus Adeniyi; Director, Biotechnology Centre and Central Laboratory, Prof. Ayotunde Adebambo; and Deputy Dean, Student Affairs, Dr. Mathew Wheto.