UI Ready to Strengthen Collaboration in Agricultural Development – Vice-Chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, mni FAS, has expressed the University’s readiness to strengthen collaboration with the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) in advancing agricultural development and capacity building.

The Vice-Chancellor gave this assurance while receiving a delegation from the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), led by its Country Director, Dr. Godwin Atser, during a courtesy visit to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.

The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the delegation for identifying with the University and emphasized that agriculture must be approached as a business, with greater focus on value addition rather than exporting raw produce. He assured the team that the University, particularly through the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships) would engage further to ensure a productive partnership.

The Country Director, Dr. Godwin Atser (an alumnus of the University of Ibadan), who led the team expressed his delight at returning to his alma mater. He explained that the Sasakawa Africa Association works directly with farmers by taking proven agricultural innovations from research institutions to the field with the aim of addressing food insecurity in Africa. 

He noted that the organization operates in several African countries and collaborates closely with Universities and Agricultural organisations to promote regenerative agriculture, nutrition, market systems and human capital development. 

He added that the Association has trained over one thousand Ph.D holders across Africa and is expanding its crop focus to include soybean, maize and cassava, in order to enhance agricultural growth across southwest Nigeria. 

 Dr. Atser noted that as part of the new five-year strategy of SAA, the organization is extending its operations to Oyo state to further support smallholder farmers and build the capacity of front-line agricultural extension workers through training and skill development. 

He affirmed the belief of the Sasakawa Africa Association that the University of Ibadan’s support would be critical to the achievement of SAA’s objectives and foster sustainable agricultural growth across Southwest Nigeria in research and collaborative initiatives, given its leadership role in academic excellence and regional development.

In line with this belief, Dr. Atser stated that the visit was to seek stronger institutional collaboration with the University of Ibadan for the Initiative, and to explore the possibility of formalizing the partnership. 

Also on the visit were the SSA Deputy Country Director, Dr. Gambo Abdulhamid the SSA Technical Coordinator, Dr. Anjola Fadairo and Head, Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Ibadan, Prof. Stella O. Odebode among others.