By Ade Iyamoye
The Federal Government has called on journalists, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), to intensify efforts in promoting its agricultural policies and programs, emphasizing the sector’s critical role in national development.
Speaking in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Professor Garba Sharubutu, highlighted the importance of media and civil society in driving awareness and adoption of modern agricultural practices under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
At the heart of the government’s transformation drive is the National Electronic Extension Platform (NEEP), an initiative by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to digitalize agricultural extension services.
According to Professor Sharubutu, NEEP is a “game-changer” that will facilitate real-time knowledge transfer, enhance research accessibility, and bridge the gap between scientists and farmers.
To further strengthen agricultural education and outreach, the government has established ARCN TV and Radio and launched the Electronic Technology Transfer (ETT), Portal, providing farmers with digital resources to improve productivity.
Additionally, it has directed National Agricultural Research Institutes and Federal Colleges of Agriculture to set up Adopted Villages, Research Outreach Centers, and Adopted Schools to serve as rural information hubs.
The Federal Government has also unveiled Nigeria’s first Agricultural Research Museum, a one-stop repository for groundbreaking research and innovations from agricultural institutes and colleges.
Professor Sharubutu urged journalists and CSOs to work collaboratively in amplifying these initiatives, stressing that “agriculture is not just an economic sector but a strategic pillar for national food security and prosperity.”
