NAERLS organises stakeholders harmonization workshop on C4SEAS project
The National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has organised a stakeholders harmonization and validation workshop on C4SEAS regional training hub project.
The project focused on strengthening human capital for soil-health-focused extension in West Africa.
The workshop took place today (Thursday, 7th May, 2026) at the NAERLS Ultra Modern Hall, Samaru, Zaria.
Speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, commended the C4SEAS ABU Hub Project team and the Sasakawa Africa Association for convening the important and timely engagement.
The Vice-Chancellor was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Advancement, Research and Innovation, Prof Sanusi Aliyu Rafindadi.
He said agriculture remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and the primary livelihood of millions of smallholder farmers but it continued to face persistent challenges.
Prof Ahmed said he was impressed by the technical rigour the ABU project team, led by NAERLS in partnership with the Faculty of Agriculture, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) and NIFAAS had demonstrated since implementation began in October 2025.
He urged all participants to engage deeply, challenge assumptions, and help refine a framework that would ensure no Nigerian farmer was left without access to better soil health advisory services.
Earlier in a remark, the Executive Director, National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Prof Yusuf Sani Ahmad, described the gathering as timely and strategic.
The agriculture sector, according to him, continued to face persistent challenges ranging from climate variability and resource constraints to gaps in extension delivery, data integration, and policy coordination.
The Executive Director also stated that at NAERLS, their mandate always centered on bridging the gap between research and practice.
Prof Yusuf said they were committed to ensuring that innovations developed within research institutions effectively reach the farmers who need them most.
Giving an overview of the C4SEAS Project and workshop objectives, the Principal Investigator, Prof C K Daudu, explained that the Coalition for Strengthening Extension and Advisory Services in Africa (C4SEAS), operating under the Africa Fertilizer and Health Action Plan was an initiative designed to strengthen agricultural extension systems across Africa.
Prof Daudu affirmed that under the initiative, ABU had been designated as the Anglophone West Africa Regional Training hub.
It is one of five continental hubs, spanning Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mali and Ethiopia to support capacity building in soil health management and sustainable agricultural extension.
According to Daudu, the pilot initiative aimed to enhance agricultural extension and advisory services by strengthening technical capacity, developing training curricular and producing practical soil health advisory tools for extension professionals and farmers.
The Principal Investigator stressed that the goal of the project was to build foundational capacity for scalable health-focused extension through curriculum reform, practitioner training and evidence based advisory tools aligned with the AFSH-AP.
This was essentially to contribute to the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA), target of reaching 30% African farmers with improved soil health solutions by 2032, he also said.
Equally speaking, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon Murtala Dabo, lauded ABU and NAERLS for organising the workshop.
Dabo, who was represented by the Director, Agricultural Services, Dr Bege Dutse, said Kaduna State recognized sustainable agricultural practice system that supports farmers.
He urged that the outcome of the workshop should be practical and inclusive.
In a goodwill message, the Sassakawa Africa Association Nigeria Country Director, Dr Godwin Atser, explained that his organisation remained committed towards advancing agricultural extension and believed in collaborations with agricultural research institutes.
Dr Atser applauded ABU and the Executive Director, NAERLS for their continued dedication in strengthening agricultural development in the University.
Highlight of the event was demonstration and launch of pilot interactive recommendation map.
The event was attended by the Director, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Prof Bashir Babaji and the representative of the Executive Director IAR, Prof L Bamaiyi.
Others present included Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof S B Abdu as well as stakeholders from different agricultural organisations within and outside Nigeria.
……………………………………..
Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (NEWS/AHW)
Thursday, 7th May, 2026
