By Amina Ismaila
His Excellency, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, CON, the Executive Governor of Yobe State has entrusted an outstation and 20 hectares of land to the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Ahmadu Bello University for livestock research.
The research outstation is located at Lawan Kallan village. It is 23km away from Damaturu, the Yobe State Capital.
The 20 hectares of land was allocated to the University for NAPRI’s various livestock research activities in the state and Northeast in general.
His Excellency, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, CON, The Executive Governor of Yobe State,was represented by the deputy governor of yobe state His Excellency, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, commissioned and handed over the facility to the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Kabiru Bala. He urged the institution’s animal research institute to take full advantage of the outstation to ensure unparallel success in livestock research and other related activities.
He also stated that the contribution of the two fixed assets was done to create an enabling environment for NAPRI to carry out its activities smoothly and which would lead to an increase in the quality and number of animals and products produced for the benefit of both the government and the people of the state. In his words, “In the long run, we anticipate the rise in export of livestock products and boost in our national aggregate foreign exchange earnings for overall development”.
He also stated that the event provided his administration with a unique opportunity to show their genuine efforts toward recovering from the insurgency period in which the state suffered. The administration's efforts can be seen through its collaboration with relevant organizations as can presently be seen through its active effort in the development of agriculture in the state.
He stated that the importance of this modest contribution was emphasized by the fact that Yobe State is said to be one of the top livestock producers in the country.
The governor, therefore, urged NAPRI to take full advantage of the state contributions by working harder to ensure unparallel success in carrying out its responsibilities which includes, providing essential inputs to the relevant federal and state ministries, departments and agencies for improved animal productivity.
The Vice-Chancellor, of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Kabiru Bala, expressed the University’s heartfelt appreciation to the Yobe State Government for its foresight and concern in supporting capacity building for Nigerian youths by providing the research outstation.
Prof. Bala assured Governor Mai Mala Buni and the entire people of the state that NAPRI would thoroughly utilize the facility by engaging in demand-driven research, training, and extension activities in all areas of livestock production value chains in Yobe, Northeast, and Nigeria in general.
Also present was the Hon. Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources for Yobe State, Dr. Mairo Ahmed Amshi, MFR . also stated that the state was one of the largest producers of livestock in the country with an estimated population of about 2.4 million heads of cattle and over 4.8 million heads of small ruminants.
She further stated that more than 80 percent of the state's population depended on agriculture as a means of livelihood, which was why in 2021 the state the state came up with an agricultural policy which supports both livestock and other agricultural sector development to further improve the agricultural value chain.
“This could be one of the reasons the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development collaborated with the Yobe State Government and set up three Livestock Development Centres, one each in the senatorial zones of the state”, she said.
The commissioner assured the University and NAPRI that they are currently pursuing other facilities from the government for the smooth operations of the research outstation.
Some of the distinguished personalities, who equally spoke at the occasion included the Chairman of, the House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Research Institutes, Hon. Mannir Dan’Agundi; the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Shuaibu Sharubutu; and Executive Director, National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Prof. Abdullahi Kolo Mohammed.
Culled from: Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
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