NSUK, Sasakawa Africa Association Sign MoU to Integrate Transformative Agricultural Systems into Curriculum
The Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) to mainstream and institutionalise Transformative Agricultural Systems in Nigeria (SIFTAS) within the University’s existing teaching curriculum.
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The Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) to mainstream and institutionalise Transformative Agricultural Systems in Nigeria (SIFTAS) within the University’s existing teaching curriculum.
Professor Liman, accompanied by Professor I. M. Haruna, signed the agreement on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as part of her administration’s efforts to strengthen practical, innovative and industry-relevant education at NSUK.
The SIFTAS project is funded by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and implemented by the Sasakawa Africa Association. It is designed to institutionalise transformative agricultural innovations within Nigeria’s agricultural education and extension systems.
Under the partnership, NSUK will integrate practical, sustainable and market-oriented agricultural approaches into its teaching and learning activities, with particular emphasis on the rice, cassava and potato value chains.
The innovations to be mainstreamed under the initiative include:
- Crop-Specific Agroforestry Systems
- Farmer Field Business School (FFBS)
- Sustainable Rice Production
- Contract Farming (CF)
- Cooperative Business School (CBS)
The initiative is designed to strengthen the link between classroom knowledge and real-world agricultural production by exposing students and future agricultural professionals to practical approaches in sustainable production, climate resilience, productivity enhancement, value-chain development and agribusiness.
The partnership aligns with Professor Liman’s commitment to producing graduates equipped with practical skills and competencies needed to address contemporary societal and economic challenges.
The institutionalisation of the SIFTAS innovations is also expected to strengthen linkages among agricultural education, research, extension, farmers, markets and other stakeholders, while promoting enterprise development and sustainable agricultural practices.
The partnership further reinforces NSUK’s commitment to strategic collaborations with development organisations and industry stakeholders to improve the relevance, quality and practical orientation of its academic programmes.
The MoU represents an important step towards strengthening the connection between agricultural education and Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda, while positioning NSUK students to contribute more effectively to a productive, resilient and sustainable agricultural sector.
The University expressed appreciation to the Sasakawa Africa Association, GIZ and all partners and stakeholders whose support and commitment contributed to the establishment of the partnership.
