UNILORIN, Sasakawa Africa to strengthen ties

The University of Ilorin and the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) have reaffirmed their commitment to boosting agricultural development in Nigeria by strengthening their collaborative efforts, which started in 2010 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, and the Country Director of Sasakawa Africa Association, Dr Godwin Atser, made this commitment penultimate Friday (May 24, 2024) when the Sasakawa Country Director led the Sasakawa representatives from its Japanese headquarters and the Unilorin SAA Team on a visit to the University.

Prof. Egbewole, who affirmed the fruitful relationship between Sasakawa Africa and the University, expressed happiness over the mutual benefits derived from the partnership and underscored the importance of leveraging such collaborations for sustainable development.

While commenting on the new focus of SAA, which is targeting regenerative marketing and nutrition, the Vice Chancellor noted that this area is deemed particularly relevant in the context of contemporary Nigeria.

Prof. Egbewole stressed the importance of capacity building and called for a comprehensive approach that goes beyond mere training of farmers to include skill development for University staff and other beneficiaries.

While explaining the significance of identifying the specific skill levels and requirements of individuals targeted for capacity improvement, the Vice Chancellor called for a strategic evaluation of short courses to ensure they align with the desired outcomes and cater to the diverse needs of the participants.

Earlier in his remarks, the Country Director of Sasakawa Africa Association, Dr Godwin Atser, said SAA, which established its presence in Nigeria in 1992 and operates in more than 22 states, has been a key player in revolutionising the agricultural landscape of the country.

The Country Director said that SAA launched the Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE) initiative in the year 2000, after recognising the pivotal role of agricultural extension services in driving agrarian transformation. He explained that the primary objective of SAFE was to address the dearth of extension services by nurturing a new cadre of extension professionals.

Dr Atser added that among the 13 universities collaborating on this initiative across Africa, the University of Ilorin stood out as a strategic partner in Nigeria, alongside institutions in Ghana, Sierra Leone and others.

Also speaking during the visit, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Prof. Oluyemisi Bolajoko Fawole, shared insights into the longstanding collaboration between the University and the Sasakawa Africa Association.

According to the Dean, “Sometime in 2010, the University signed an MoU with Sasakawa Africa Association, and since then, we have worked together to train mid-career extension officers, with approximately 120 individuals graduating with B.Sc. in Agricultural Extension through this programme”.