On 14- 15 May 2018, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) organized a workshop towards the development of an extension policy for Nigeria in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State. The aim of the workshop was for participants to jointly work towards the development of an implementation strategy for the National Extension Policy in Nigeria.
The workshop brought together 32 participants (27 male, 5 female) including technical staff of the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension (FDAE) in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), and the state ministries of agriculture from Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kebbi and Niger states. Also present where representatives from academia in the field of agricultural extension. The workshop was led by Dr. Suresh Babu, Head of Capacity Strengthening, IFPRI, Washington DC, who also delivered a keynote presentation on “Extension Reforms in Developing Countries: Issues and Lessons”. Presentations were also given by Dr. Kolawole Adebayo (FUNAAB) on “Current Challenges in Nigerian Extension System”, and by Professor Damian Chikwendu (CNFA) on “Potential Opportunities and Options for Reforming the Extension System in Nigeria”.
Participants reviewed the proposed objectives of the proposed national extension policy and identified specific issues to their states that needed to be addressed at the policy level. The outcomes of the workshop will help FMARD to effectively coordinate the development of Nigeria’s extension policy, one which would also appropriately address the diverse realities of extension practice across the country’s various states.
The Head of IFPRI’s Abuja Office, Dr. George Mavrotas, also participated at the workshop and delivered his concluding remarks to the participants on the completion of the workshop. He also took the opportunity to meet with the Executive Director of NAERLS, Prof. M. K. Othman, to reassure him of IFPRI’s continued commitment to its partnership with NAERLS.
The workshop was organized within the framework of the Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Nigeria) and jointly implemented by IFPRI’s Nigeria Strategy Support Program and Michigan State University.
