NSUK Professor Maikano Ari Earns Continental Recognition at African Livestock Summit

A distinguished academic of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), Maikano Mohammed Ari, has earned continental recognition after playing key leadership roles at the Third and Final Technical Committee, Steering Committee and Project Close-out Workshop of the Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) Project held in Nairobi, Kenya.

Professor Ari represented Nigeria, the Nigeria Feed and Fodder Multi-Stakeholder Platform (NFFMSP) and NSUK at the high-level gathering, which brought together policymakers, scientists, development partners and livestock experts to review the achievements of the RAFFS Project and develop a roadmap for the future of Africa's feed and fodder sector.

In recognition of his expertise and contributions to livestock development, Professor Ari served in three capacities:

• Technical Panellist.
• Selected Speaker.
• Project Champion.

As a Technical Panellist, he joined other African experts in developing strategies to institutionalise feed resource mapping, national feed inventories, feed balance systems and regulated early warning mechanisms to improve livestock resilience and food security across the continent.

As a Selected Speaker, Professor Ari called for increased investment in Africa's feed and fodder sector, describing it as a key driver of livestock development. He urged African governments, development partners and the private sector to prioritise:

• Harmonised feed and fodder standards.
• Sustainable financing.
• Digital market systems.
• Youth and women empowerment.
• Institutionalisation of Feed and Fodder Deal Rooms across Africa.

His contributions to promoting resilient feed and fodder systems, strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships, advancing evidence-based policy reforms and supporting sustainable livestock investments earned him recognition as a Project Champion during the workshop.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Feed and Fodder Multi-Stakeholder Platform, Professor Ari presented Nigeria's position on transitioning the RAFFS Project from a donor-funded initiative into a sustainable continental programme.

He advocated:

• Institutionalisation of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms.
• Harmonisation of African feed and fodder standards.
• Strengthening of national feed data systems.
• Establishment of a continental feed and fodder early warning mechanism.
• Expansion of investment opportunities.
• Greater implementation of feed initiatives at state and community levels.

The workshop marked the successful conclusion of the RAFFS Project while laying the foundation for a long-term continental strategy to strengthen livestock productivity, resilience and food security across Africa.

Professor Ari expressed satisfaction that many of the recommendations championed by Nigeria were adopted in the workshop's final communiqué, including the institutionalisation of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms, operationalisation of national feed data systems, harmonisation of standards, expansion of investment mechanisms and the establishment of a continental feed and fodder early warning system.

He described the outcome as a significant milestone for Nigeria and a reflection of the country's growing influence in shaping agricultural and livestock policies across Africa.

Professor Ari also commended the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, the Permanent Secretary, and the RAFFS Project team for their commitment to advancing sustainable livestock development across the continent.

According to NSUK, the recognition further highlights Professor Ari's contributions to sustainable feed and fodder systems while reinforcing the university's growing role in agricultural innovation, research and policy development in Africa.