NEW AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTES UNVEILED

President Muhammadu Buhari approved to establish 6 different institutes, one for each geopolitical zone, for areas of agricultural machinery and equipment development across Nigeria. The aim is to reduce import and in turn conserve foreign exchange.

The opening statement from Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, was this: “It is a case of a promise kept by the President Buhari administration, as the establishment of the agric machinery institute, Lafia targets the provision of 10 million jobs for unemployed Nigerian youths through economic diversification, especially exploring the gains of agriculture in nation building.”

Gambari stated that AMEDI (Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute) shows the federal government is committed to developing technology in the economy and that it was one of the key elements of public issue with the financial system.

There will be a pilot farm showcasing modernised technique, technologies and extension services for the agricultural sector throughout the nation.

Ibrahim Gambari spoke through the special assistant to the President Foreign and International Affairs: “Today, we are here to kick off another flagship project with the establishment of AMEDI, Lafia, building on the remarkable success of the other NASENI development institutes across the country. We are confident that AMEDI, Lafia will serve as the cradle for nurturing professional engineers and scientists with proficiency in the design and manufacturing of diverse agricultural machinery and equipment. I am sure that AMEDI will in no time emerge as a centre of excellence in agricultural machinery and equipment design to enable Nigeria to scale new heights as the paradise for agricultural produce and a hub for agro-allied technologies.”

He praised Governer Abdullahi Sule saying it was taking the bull by the horns and that Professor Haruna did well for getting the project into existence.

Gambari expressed the need for support from AMEDI and NASENI once the project is in full swing.

“The Presidency will constantly provide the needed support for AMEDI and NASENI in developing new products to promote a diversified economy for our beloved nation.

“Home-initiated and home-sustained industrialisation is key to achieving a sustainable economic recovery for Nigeria because technology is the secret behind the Asian, European and American magic,” he added.

Source: The Guardian, August 2022