FUNAAB to Host Africa-Europe Conference on Agroecology Education in September

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Nigeria, is set to host leading academics, policymakers, development partners, researchers and agroecology practitioners from Africa and Europe for the final conference of the AGRECOFARM Project, an international initiative focused on advancing agroecology education and promoting sustainable agricultural transformation across Africa.

The conference, scheduled to hold from September 28 to 29, 2026, at the Red Chamber of the Senate Building, FUNAAB, is themed “Advancing Agroecology Education: Future Opportunities for Africa.”

The Acting Head, Directorate of Public Relations, Mr. Olasunkanmi Olajide, stated that the two-day conference, co-funded by the European Union, would provide a strategic platform for strengthening Africa-Europe partnerships, promoting knowledge exchange and accelerating innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.

He explained that the conference would bring together representatives from leading universities, research institutions, development organisations and government agencies, including the Central University of Sierra Leone and other AGRECOFARM partner institutions across Africa and Europe.

According to him, participants would deliberate on strategies for integrating agroecology into higher education, research, policy development and agricultural practices.

Mr. Olajide further disclosed that the opening ceremony would feature a keynote address by His Excellency, Dr. Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, who would examine the growing relevance of agroecological approaches in tackling food insecurity, climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable rural development across Africa.

He stated that the technical sessions would focus on three broad thematic areas:

1. Production and Ecological Practices.

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2. People, Nutrition and Social Systems.

3. Enabling Environment.

He explained that discussions from the sessions were expected to generate practical and evidence-based recommendations for integrating agroecological principles into educational curricula, public policies, research and farming systems across Africa.

Mr. Olajide also revealed that the second day of the conference would feature a high-level roundtable on the future of agroecology in Africa, where renowned scholars and sector leaders would examine pathways for scaling agroecological innovations, strengthening institutional collaboration and enhancing regional capacity for sustainable agricultural development.

He added that the programme would include Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) activities jointly organised by the two Nigerian partner universities, showcasing innovative models for equipping the next generation of agricultural professionals with practical competencies in agroecology and climate-smart agriculture.

Beyond the technical sessions, Mr. Olajide noted that the conference would provide an important platform for networking, collaboration and knowledge exchange among researchers, educators, students, policymakers and development partners committed to advancing sustainable agriculture and building resilient food systems across Africa.

He stressed that hosting the AGRECOFARM Final Conference would further strengthen FUNAAB’s reputation as one of Africa’s foremost agricultural universities and a leading centre for cutting-edge research, international collaboration and capacity development.

According to him, the event reflects the University’s continued commitment to driving innovation, expanding global partnerships and providing practical solutions to some of the world’s most pressing agricultural and environmental challenges.