When a training producing far-reaching results for an institution and agricultural policymaking in a country, then it becomes more than a training. When Motunrayo Oyeyemi and Segun Fadare, two (2) researchers from the Nigeria Office of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), went to deliver the “Computer Assisted Personal Interview using CSPro” course at the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Service (NAERLS) at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria on 13-15 November 2018, this was certainly the desired outcome.
The training, which was attended by 25 participants (21 male, 4 female), introduced participants to the CSPro software and took them through its use for analyzing data from personal interviews.
Muhammad I. Hudu, who is an Assistant Extension Specialist with NAERLS had this to say upon completion of the training activity: “I will like to commend the effort of the IFPRI-Nigeria for the capacity building and particularly to both of you for the steadfastness and expertise you've shown during the period of the training, although there was different level of intake by the participants but you were able to deal with it with great concern and enthusiasm. Prior to the training, I was only able to collect data on field with the survey instrument designed in CSPro. But as at Thursday, I was able to design a survey tool with few logic's and also I was able to extract the data entered to STATA.”
Mr. Hudu stated that he considered the training “a great milestone not to him but also to my institute (NAERLS) and the Ahmadu Bello University at large”. According to him, “In my institute we conduct the annual agricultural performance survey across the country and around 19 teams comprising 3 members each are tasked with the conduct and data is been collected using the open data kit (ODK), but with this training on CSPro my institute is already thinking of a way to incorporate the use of CSPro in the survey exercise. And there is also a plan for conduct of step down training to my colleagues in the institute to build their capacity and to also look for a way to come up with a draft copy of our survey tool using the CSPro platform.”
The training is part of capacity-building efforts on the Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project. The Project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Nigeria) and jointly implemented by Michigan State University and IFPRI-NSSP.
