The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is to partner the Republic of Czech to develop Nigeria’s Agricultural sector.
NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Mohammed Haruna, announced this during the ground-breaking ceremony of Agricultural Machinery and Development Institute (AMEDI) yesterday in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
Haruna said the siting of AMEDI in the state was part of the directives President Muhammadu Buhari gave to the agency to revolutionise farming and food processing through modern technology.
The NASENI boss said the agency had succeeded in the development of some relevant equipment and machines in the food value chain – from cultivation to planting, weeding, harvesting, post-harvesting and food preservation.
He said: “This institute is mandated to build on this success and serve as a pilot site for the implementation of the agreement between Nigeria and Czech Republic on agriculture, as approved by President Buhari for the Presidential Implementation Committee.
“Working with the Technology Agency of Czech Republic, NASENI and AMEDI Lafia will research, develop the equipment and train ordinary Nigerians and professionals in agriculture, food production, harvest and post-harvest, processing technologies, food preservation and packaging. It will also process agricultural waste to renewable energy among others.”
Also, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Development Strategies, Ambassador Abdullahi Omaki, assured Nigerians that the present administration would continue to leverage science and technology to drive agricultural development across the country.
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule hailed the Federal Government for establishing AMEDI in Lafia.
The governor said the project was aimed at creating wealth and alleviating poverty in the country.
He said: “This project is geared towards transforming the Agricultural sector into an industrial hub, through job creation, youth empowerment, skills acquisition for value addition.
“It is pertinent to state that the intervention of the Federal Government in the conception and siting of this project is predicated on the belief that 80 per cent of the world economy is Advanced Manufacturing Technology-driven.
“I am happy to state that NASENI has also set up the North Central Skill Development Centre in Keffi Local Government Area of the state. These endeavours would be critical in the transformation of our dear state into a business hub and will no doubt deepen the availability of skill manpower to match the influx of companies and organisations that have indicated interest to do business in the state.
“Let me specially commend the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Haruna, one of our illustrious sons, for his visionary leadership and for facilitating the establishment of the AMEDI in Lafia. This gesture will remain indelible in the sands of time.”