NAERLS moves to enhance services as it establishes new departments, units
Two additional departments and three new units have been established at the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University to enhance agricultural research and extension services across the country.
They are Department of Agric Economics and Department of Agric Extension with Prof. Abdulrahman Ali and Prof. Salisu H. Kura appointed to oversee them respectively.
The three newly created Units are for monitoring and evaluation, servicom and gender services. Dr. Isah Musa Ahmed is appointed to head Monitoring and Evaluation Unit while Sa’adatu Bappah Ahmed and Dr. (Mrs.) Joyce H. Kagbu are to head Servicom and Gender Units respectively.
Similarly, the institute announced the appointment of highly experienced professionals to head the other six existing departments, 17 units, six zonal offices and one Farmer Field School.
The development is essentially to align NAERLS’s operations with emerging agricultural challenges, including climate-smart agriculture, digital extension services, and value-chain innovations.
The creation of the new departments and units, an effort that reflects NAERLS’s commitment to addressing evolving issues in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, is intended to complement existing sections in providing farmers, stakeholders, and policymakers with cutting-edge solutions and strategies.
NAERLS’s Executive Director, Prof. Yusuf A. Sani, spoke on the importance of what he described as “restructuring” of the agricultural research body, saying that the development is in line with global best practices.
“With these changes, NAERLS aims to bridge gaps in research, extension, and implementation. The focus on climate-smart agriculture and digital extension services underscores NAERLS’s commitment to sustainability and modern agricultural practices”, Prof. Sani also said.
According to him, farmers, cooperative societies, and agric businesses are expected to benefit from more targeted support and innovative solutions as NAERLS is determined to improve agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
(NAM)
Friday, 6th December, 2024
