NAPRI to write position paper on expected roles in new Livestock Ministry
The National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria has constituted an eighteen-member Committee to write a position paper on the expected roles of the institute and the University in the newly created Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
The Committee, which was inaugurated last week by the Executive Director of the institute, Prof. Mohammed Rabiu Hassan, was raised on account that the institute had a lot to contribute in nurturing the new ministry given its cream of seasoned researchers.
Specially, the Committee is expected to articulate the views of NAPRI/ABU on the functions of the new Ministry, and to clearly define the roles of the institute and its contributions to livestock development in Nigeria based on its national mandates.
The Committee, chaired by Prof. P.I. Rekwot, is also expected to bring out researches conducted by the institute in livestock development, and to elaborate on livestock trainings to various states and organisations in the country.
Additionally, it is charged to showcase how the institute can contribute in various segments of the Ministry, and present papers/seminars on the expected roles of the new Ministry.
Inaugurating the Committee, the Executive Director of the institute, Prof. Mohammed Rabiu Hassan, urged members of the Committee to make any other recommendations that will add value to the position paper.
The institute noted that most of the roles of the new Ministry elucidated under the mandates of NAPRI are clearly defined under CAP. A14, Statute 20 (Laws of the Federation).
It would be recalled that the National Livestock Reforms Committee had on 14th September, 2023, recommended for the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to fashion out a way that would mitigate the decades-long conflicts between herders and farmers over access to land, pasture, and water.
On 9th July, 2024, the Federal Government had inaugurated the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee to address the recurring clashes between herders and farmers, and other obstacles to agricultural productivity as well as to open up new opportunities that would benefit farmers, herders, processors and distributors in the livestock farming value-chain.
Also, on 19th September, 2024, the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee had submitted its inception report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, giving a detailed guidance on the operations of the newly created Ministry of Livestock.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Wednesday, 25th September, 2024
