In a major legislative push to address food insecurity and rising unemployment, the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions has unveiled a comprehensive blueprint to completely overhaul and modernise Nigeria’s agricultural education and research framework at the National Legislative Summit and Expo on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions which held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan from May 12 to May 15, 2026.
Committee Chairman, Senator Sharafadeen Alli and Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Oyelola Ashiru were keynote speakers at the landmark summit, themed “Unfolding the Potential of Agricultural Colleges and Institutions through Collaboration and Innovation to Enhance Food Security and Job Creation.”
The initiative was earlier announced by Alli, during a media parley in Ibadan on Monday, May 11, 2026.
Senator Alli emphasized that the committee is determined to transition Nigeria’s agricultural institutions away from purely textbook based centers into vibrant, innovation driven hubs.
“The era of treating agricultural education as purely academic is over. Our goal is to ensure that between 60% and 70% of training focuses on practical areas such as crop production, livestock, and agribusiness,” Senator Alli stated.
To facilitate rapid technology transfer, specialized training, and foreign investment, the Senate Committee has entered into high level diplomatic engagements with key international partners, including: Malaysia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
Domestically, the Senate is reviewing the existing laws governing the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN). This legislative review aims to optimize the operational efficiency of more than 16 affiliated research institutes, aligning their mandates directly with the federal government’s food security agenda.
Furthermore, despite ongoing logistical challenges, the committee continues to rigorously engage the leadership of over 35 research institutes. The Senate is also backing the establishment of specialized institutions in underserved regions, including the proposed Federal College of Agriculture in Shani, Borno State.
Endorsing the initiative, the Executive Director of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Professor Muhammed Attanda, described the upcoming summit as highly timely. He noted that a robust legislative framework is precisely what Nigeria needs at this critical juncture to drive sustainable agricultural development and economic resilience.
