FUNAAB, UWS, and Ajogbe Agro Allied Industry Showcase AAKTP Project Achievements

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), in partnership with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) and Ajogbe Agro Allied Industry, has unveiled the outcomes of the African Agriculture Knowledge Transfer Partnership (AAKTP) project.

The project, themed “Developing Cost-Effective Nutritive Feeds from Locally Available Crop Residues and Agricultural By-Products for Livestock in Southwest Nigeria,” represents a major step in sustainable livestock production and innovation-driven agriculture.

The event convened stakeholders from academia, industry, and government to highlight the results of the two-year research collaboration aimed at addressing livestock feed challenges, enhancing productivity, and promoting technology transfer within Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Olawale Dairo, commended the Project Team for translating research into practical solutions. He noted that the tripartite collaboration, connecting Africa and Europe with active private sector participation, underscores FUNAAB’s growing reputation for applied research and problem-solving innovation.

Prof. Kehinde stated, “This partnership goes beyond theory; it is practical, impactful, and results-oriented. It exemplifies the synergy between academia, industry, and government, the true catalyst for meaningful change.”

In his Welcome Address, the Project Team Lead, Prof. Adebayo Shittu of FUNAAB, described the collaboration as a landmark initiative bridging research and industrial application. He emphasised that linking institutions across Nigeria and the United Kingdom has created sustainable pathways for livestock feed development while addressing broader challenges, including farmers-herders conflicts and feed scarcity.

Speaking on behalf of Ajogbe Agro Allied Industry, Executive Chairman Engr. Bosoye Olalere highlighted the company’s integrated livestock and crop production model. He revealed that the partnership had enhanced Ajogbe’s technical capacity to produce quality ruminant feed from locally available by-products.

Engr. Olalere explained, “Through this collaboration, we now possess commercial-level expertise in feed production, which strengthens our mission to build a viable beef ecosystem in Southwest Nigeria.” He outlined Ajogbe’s operational framework, covering cattle breeding, feed production, crop cultivation, processing, and logistics, designed to create a self-sustaining livestock value chain, and noted the adoption of innovative breeding and feeding techniques to improve cattle weight and feed conversion efficiency.

Delivering a Goodwill Message, Prof. Christian Harrison of UWS emphasised the role of academia-industry partnerships in shaping 21st-century leadership and driving economic growth through innovation.

Alhaji Akinlawon Olalekan, Programme Manager of the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), representing the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, commended the initiative for linking research outcomes with practical applications. He described it as “a refreshing shift from traditional research practices” and praised the project for reducing government burden in translating research into practice.

“This project has created a seamless connection between researchers and end-users. It is a model worth replicating across Nigeria,” Alhaji Olalekan affirmed, expressing the State’s readiness to support similar initiatives.

The FUNAAB–UWS–Ajogbe partnership stands as a leading example of how cross-continental collaboration and private sector participation can transform agricultural research into sustainable business solutions, advancing food security, innovation, and rural prosperity in Nigeria.