The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act, by expanding its mandate through the establishment of specialised training institutions across the federation to deepen national agricultural productivity capacity and ensure innovation is not confined to a few urban centres.
In another related development, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Foundation has renewed its commitment to ensuring food security in the country.
The Managing Director, NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said this on Wednesday during the training of vulnerable farmers in Akwa Ibom, affirming that 6,000 farmers across the country would be trained on modern farming methods and market access strategies to boost food production in the country.
Meanwhile, the proposed legislation titled, ‘Bill for an Act to Amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act, Cap. A12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to Provide for the Establishment of Certain Specialised Colleges; and for Other Related Matters’, was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu and 6 other lawmakers.
Leading the debate on its general principles at the plenary on Wednesday, the Deputy Speaker noted that agriculture remains a vital part of Nigeria’s economy and a key driver of rural development, job creation, food security, and national GDP.
He said that the nation continues to face glaring gaps in research and innovation, especially in regions where unique agricultural potential remains untapped due to the absence of tailored educational institutions.
He therefore said that the Bill seeks to bridge this glaring gap as the amendment will not simply be adding institutions, but will serve as an investment in untapped potential, and empowerment of those whose hands feed the nation.
Kalu expressed optimism that when the bill becomes law, it will lead to stronger agricultural research ecosystem; more employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for Nigerians; greater food security and overall economic growth.
He said: ‘This is not merely to introduce a legislative proposal, but to lay before this Peoples House a vision — a vision to take agricultural education into the fabric of our national development strategy and effort.
‘A vision that recognises that research and innovation must not remain in silos or city centres, but must live where the land is tilled, where the livestock roam, where the rivers run.
‘Through this amendment, we are not simply adding institutions — we are answering a national call -a call to invest where there is untapped potential, to empower those whose hands feed the nation, and to deepen our national agricultural productivity capacity by expanding the mandate and reach of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria through the establishment of specialised training institutions in various parts of our great nation by establishing certain specialized agricultural colleges in strategic locations across the six geo-political zones.
‘This Bill which comprises 3 clauses principally seeks to amend the Third Schedule of the Principal Act to provide for the establishment of the following specialized colleges of agriculture – (a) Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Bende, Abia State; (b} Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Takum, Adamawa State; (c) Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti State; (d) Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State; (e) Federal College of Anima} Health and Production Technology, Dange Shuni, Sokoto State; (f} Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Olamaboro, Kogi State. The passage of this Bill is a strategic step toward ensuring agricultural innovation is not confined to a few urban centres but is equitably distributed across the federation’.
Thereafter, the bill was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas who presided over the session and it was passed and referred to the Committee on Agric Colleges.
On her part, the Managing Director, NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, represented by Executive Director, Programme Development and Coordinator, NNPC Foundation, Dr. Bala David said the Foundation was dedicated to implementing impactful programmes that align with national priorities.
According to her more than 500 farmers in Akwa Ibom were trained by the NNPC Ltd Agricultural Training Initiative for Vulnerable Farmers on modern methods and strategies to boost food production.
The farmers, she said were drawn from the 31 Local Government Areas of the state, to participate in the training to equip them with techniques and market access strategies to add value to their businesses.
‘This programme is a testament to our unwavering commitment to food security, economic empowerment, and national development.
‘As the corporate social responsibility arm of NNPC Ltd, the NNPC Foundation is dedicated to implementing impactful programmes that align with national priorities.
‘This initiative is part of our broader efforts to support the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda, which seeks to enhance food security, increase productivity, and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
‘Our goal is to equip every participant with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to transition from subsistence farming to commercial-scale production’, Arukwe said.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Offiong Offor thanked NNPCL for the programme initiative to equip farmers with knowledge on modern farming.
Offor, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Atim Okoko said a nation that train farmers is a nation that would not go hungry.
‘I want to express appreciation of the State Government to NNPC for mounting this laudable programme.
‘A nation that start to train farmers, a nation that start to look at farmers will never go hungry.
‘In this season that our President, Bola Tinubu has come up with his Renewed Hope Agenda, everything is to end hunger in Nigeria’, offor said.
The commissioner added that the programme came to complement what the state government was doing to ensure food sufficiency.
Responding on behalf of farmers, the State Chairman, Mr. Bassey Inwamg (AFAN) said farmers in the state were so grateful for the training programme.
Inwang said the training would boost food production in the state, as the farmers would use the knowledge gained to apply in their farms for increase in yields.
