FUNAAB to Host Nigeria’s First National Symposium on Greenhouse Cultivation

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Nigeria’s leading specialised university in agricultural education, research and innovation, is set to host the maiden edition of the National Symposium on Greenhouse Cultivation in Nigeria from October 20 to 23, 2026.

The four-day event will commence with the opening ceremony scheduled for October 21, 2026, at the Red Chamber, while the breakout sessions will take place at the Career Services and Linkages Unit (CSLU), Academic Building II. The exhibition segment of the symposium will be held at the foyer of the Red Chamber.

The Convener of the symposium, Professor Isaac Aiyelaagbe, disclosed that the event would bring together a wide range of stakeholders across the greenhouse and protected agriculture value chain.

Participants expected at the symposium include greenhouse input dealers such as SOLOKAD and AGROBOX, commercial growers including MIPAT, greenhouse fabricators, researchers, academics, policymakers, agricultural experts, technology practitioners, students and industry players from across Nigeria.

The symposium is designed to promote sustainable greenhouse cultivation, encourage innovation in protected agriculture and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders working towards transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector through climate-smart production systems.

The programme will feature a keynote address by Mr. Debo Onafowora of BIC Farms Concepts, alongside technical presentations by Professor Akinola Popoola, who will speak on integrated pest management in greenhouse production, and Dr. Simon Alpheus, a distinguished FUNAAB alumnus and greenhouse technology expert.

In addition, six lead speakers, with three presentations scheduled for each of the first two days of the symposium, will deliver papers on emerging trends, technological innovations and practical solutions for sustainable greenhouse farming.

The symposium is expected to provide a strategic platform for knowledge exchange, professional networking and policy dialogue, with discussions focusing on emerging technologies, best practices, investment opportunities and policy frameworks capable of accelerating the adoption of greenhouse cultivation.

The outcomes of the event are expected to contribute significantly to improved agricultural productivity, enhanced climate resilience and strengthened food security in Nigeria and across Africa.

As an institution committed to agricultural transformation, FUNAAB continues to champion initiatives that connect research, innovation and industry while promoting sustainable agriculture and the advancement of global food systems.