As part of efforts towards promoting agricultural policy research and communication in Nigeria, on 23 August 2017, IFPRI and the Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project supported the Agricultural Policy Research Network’s (APRNet) fourth National Stakeholders Forum on “Making Agricultural Research Work for End Users” organized at Valencia Hotel in Abuja. The forum brought together various stakeholders from the agricultural sector to brainstorm on the challenges facing the agricultural sector and food security in the country and the role of stakeholders in addressing these challenges. Opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Abdulazeez Muyiwa (Director, Agricultural Business, FMARD) on behalf of the Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the revitalization of the country’s agricultural sector. Speeches were also delivered by Professor Ambrose Voh (Executive Secretary, ARCN) and Dr. George Mavrotas (Chief of Party, Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project and Head of IFPRI Abuja Office). Dr. Saweda Liverpool-Tasie (Principal Investigator, Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project and Assistant Professor at Michigan State University) gave a presentation on “Strengthening collaborations among agricultural professional societies, policy makers, mass media, and scientists for improved advocacy and agricultural development in Nigeria” on behalf of the Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project.
The Forum was facilitated as part of activities in connection with the Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project, a joint effort between the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)’s Nigeria Strategy Support Program and Michigan State University (MSU) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID-Nigeria), and is in line with Component 3 of FY 2017 work plan on strengthening evidence-based policy process and promoting impact.
