The Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its commitment to evidence-based policymaking by participating in the University of Nottingham’s Stakeholder Brainstorming Workshop on New Seed Varieties and Farm Household Welfare, held in Abuja as part of the University’s three-year Leverhulme Trust-funded research project.
Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, Dr. Folake Olatunji-David, Director of Basic Education, highlighted the link between agricultural productivity, household welfare, and educational outcomes, emphasizing the need for stronger collaboration between the agriculture and education sectors.
The workshop, led by Dr. Aisha Abubakar, lead researcher for the University of Nottingham’s three-year Leverhulme Trust-funded project in Nigeria, brought together policymakers, researchers, development partners, and farmer representatives to examine how improved seed varieties can enhance household welfare and inform evidence-based policy.
The Abuja dialogue followed the Seeds of Change Farmer Focus Group hosted by Zuma Agric Radio in Suleja, Niger State, where researchers engaged smallholder farmers to gather insights on improved seed adoption. The findings informed discussions at the national stakeholder workshop.
Commenting on the collaboration, Shuaibu Kere Ahmed, FIAM, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zuma Agric Radio, said the partnership demonstrates the importance of ensuring farmers’ voices contribute to research and national policy discussions.
