Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, Thursday advocated for the establishment of University Farms in various faculty of agriculture in universities across the country to improve food security in Nigeria.
The director, Information and Public Relations Department, Ben Goong, stated this in a statement .
He said the comment was made during a visit by a delegation from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Maiha highlighted the importance of practical, hands-on training for students in agriculture and livestock studies and the need to transform agricultural education into actionable solutions while imploring Universities of Agriculture to shift their approach towards commercialisation of research and innovation, particularly in livestock farming.
“Knowledge must be commercialised. We must leverage the vast potential within Nigeria’s universities, particularly those focused on agriculture, to drive sustainable solutions to food security challenges. We can establish research lines, look for funding and get collaborations. We need to change our mindset. I’m saying this as a Nigerian, and I know the capacity we have in these universities,” the minister said.
“We cannot train the next generation of agricultural experts and entrepreneurs in classrooms alone. University farms should be centers of excellence where students gain real-world experience, experiment with innovations, and learn sustainable practices
“We will work together to drive this process. We will work together to meet the mandate of this ministry. We will work together to supply the food requirements of this country in their different and various nutritional forms,” Maiha added.
The minister emphasised that every farmable animal in Nigeria, including cattle, goats, sheep, rabbits, pigs, donkeys, and even bees, falls under the purview of the Ministry of Livestock Development, urging the private sector to collaborate with universities to make these farms economically viable and commercially successful.
