A new Executive Director, Dr. Mohamed Ndagi Ishaq has been appointed to head the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Baddegi in Niger state.
The Secretary of, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, (ARCN) Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharbutu has made a case for a symbiotic relationship amongst management and staff of all research institutes in Nigeria for a more result oriented approach to guaranteeing food security to end hunger and starvation.
Consequently, the two Chief Executives have met with the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi Sabi to fine tune prospects for proper take-off of the new management of the NCRI, Baddegi.
Press statement from the office of the Executive Director of the institute, Dr. Mohamed Ndagi Ishaq said the meeting with the Secretary of the ARCN Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharbutu is already yielding expected results.
The statement also quoted the Minister of State for Agriculture as stressing the urgent need for all stake holders to come together in strengthening partnerships and drive innovative research to guarantee the food security agenda of the President Bola Tinubu led administration to succeed.
The Minister who expressed optimism that the partnership will yield immediate results said all hands must be on deck as he was not ready to accommodate any group or persons not ready to move at his pace.
The Minister said, “This is a strategic meeting to mark the beginning of a new era for delibrate collaborations and as well knowledge sharing between NCRI Badeggi, and other research institutes, in collaboration with the Ministry, and ARCN to collaborate in achieving Tinubu’s economic agenda on food security”.
Food security of the Tinubu administration, Senator Sabi said is achievable with verse arable land by enhancing the institute’s mandate on crop production and sustainability, including leveraging research and technology for agro economy development as well as Strengthening institutional partnerships and capacity building.
In line with the Minister’s marching order, the Executive Director, Dr. Mohamed Ndagi who acknowledged the remarks by the Minister encouraged all staff of the NCRI Badeggi to rise up to the challenge of making significant contributions to Nigeria’s agricultural sector, innovations.
Our Correspondent reports that NCRI with its headquarters at Baddegi, few kilometre away from Bida has 11 NCRI research centres across the six geo- political zones of the country to conduct research that will suits each zone for optimal results.
