The Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, on Thursday, urged government and agricultural stakeholders to prioritise climate-smart, digital and gender-responsive innovations in agricultural extension to tackle food insecurity in Nigeria.
Prof. Adamu Ahmed, ABU Vice-Chancellor, made the call during the 2025 National Agricultural Extension Review and Planning Meeting organised by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, NAERLS, Zaria.
He said the annual extension meeting should not be treated as a ceremonial event but as a strategic platform to examine challenges and adopt practical solutions that directly improve farmers’ productivity.
In his remarks, Prof. Yusuf Sani, Director of NAERLS, called for deeper reforms in the extension sector to address climate change, digital exclusion and gender gaps.
He noted that Nigeria lost more than ₦700 billion to flood-related crop damage in the past five years.
He said NAERLS was expanding climate-smart advisories, promoting resilient seeds and strengthening early-warning systems for farmers.
Similarly, Dr. Abubakar Dabban, Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to build an innovative, inclusive and climate-resilient extension system.
Dabban, represented by Prof. Ado Yusuf, Executive Director, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, commended NAERLS for sustaining the annual platform, describing it as crucial for reviewing extension performance and harmonising national agricultural activities.
Similarly, Dr. Abubakar Dabban, Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to build an innovative, inclusive and climate-resilient extension system.
Dabban, represented by Prof. Ado Yusuf, Executive Director, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, commended NAERLS for sustaining the annual platform, describing it as crucial for reviewing extension performance and harmonising national agricultural activities.
He outlined ARCN’s commitment to strengthening result-oriented research coordination, demand-driven innovations, climate-smart technologies, youth-friendly solutions and digital extension tools for improved food and nutrition security.
The executive secretary said the synchronised extension–research calendar expected from the meeting would help minimise duplication, optimise resources and fast-track technology dissemination for national agricultural growth.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event was attended by government officials, research leaders, development partners, farmer associations and private sector representatives from across the country.
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