The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced its partnership with Bayero University Kano (BUK) to address food security in Northern Nigeria through entrepreneurship and climate adaptation initiatives.
Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President of Agriculture, Human and Social Development at AfDB, expressed admiration for the University Centre for Dry Land Agriculture during her visit to BUK. She highlighted the center’s achievements in securing grants, awards, and education.
Emphasizing the importance of transforming agriculture to ensure food security, Dr. Dunford stressed the need for leveraging high-level science and technology in agriculture. She cited examples of scientists working on improved crop varieties and soil testing to enhance agricultural productivity.
Dr. Dunford mentioned AfDB’s support for the National Agriculture Growth Scheme in 2023, which led to the development of a heat-tolerant wheat variety. This intervention is expected to enable farmers to cultivate climate-adaptive wheat varieties across 150,000 hectares.
Prof. Sagir Adamu-Abbas, Vice Chancellor of BUK, commended AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina for his support and contributions to agriculture.
Prof. Jibrin Mohammed-Jibrin, Director of the Centre for Dry Land Agriculture (CDA) at BUK, highlighted the center’s focus on improving livelihoods, resilience, and sustainable use of natural resources in African dry lands through research and training. The center has secured numerous research grants and collaborates with communities across Nigeria, West, and Central Africa to achieve its objectives
