The National Agriculture Seeds Council (NASC) has emphasised the critical importance of quality seeds in achieving food security and unlocking Nigeria’s agribusiness potential.
NASC Director General, Fatuhu Buhari, made this known on Friday while receiving handover notes from the outgoing acting Director General of Council.
He highlighted that seeds are not just the starting point of agriculture but the cornerstone of a resilient and productive farming system.
“Seeds are the first link in the agricultural value chain, the tiny but mighty catalysts of abundance. Without quality seeds, there can be no thriving farms; without thriving farms, there can be no food security,” Buhari added.
Buhari, who pledged to reposition the agency as a key player in Nigeria’s food security efforts by strengthening seed systems and fostering innovation in agriculture, outlined plans to partner with research institutions and agri-tech pioneers to develop climate-smart seed varieties that are resilient to changing environmental conditions.
The DG also emphasised the importance of expanding seed multiplication programs to guarantee affordability and accessibility for farmers across the country.
Beyond research and regulation, Buhari noted that collaboration will be key.
“We are engaging seed companies, development agencies, and investors to scale up production and distribution,” he stated.
However, he underscored that the transformation of Nigeria’s seed system cannot be achieved in isolation.
“This is not a journey I can undertake alone,” he said. “I call upon farmers, your feedback will guide our policies. Researchers and seed companies your innovations will drive our progress. Development partners, your support will amplify our impact.”
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Earlier, the outgoing acting Director General of NASC, Dr. Ishiak Khalid, said Nigeria’s global credibility in the seed industry improved with its accreditation and admission into the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) and the OECD Seed Schemes, while its accession as the 80th member of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) marked a milestone in plant breeders’ rights and innovation.
Further, Khalid said the Council restructured the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) into a unified, more accountable body.
Capacity-building initiatives, study tours, and digital inspection tools, he said, were introduced to improve the quality and reach of regulatory services.
Furthermore, he said NASC also launched the National Seed Roadmap Dashboard to monitor production, compliance, and investment opportunities in real time.
In his remarks, NASC Board Chairman, Austine Agada, emphasised the importance of food availability in tackling broader socioeconomic challenges in the country.
“If there is enough food in our nation, we would have succeeded in eradicating poverty and social biases that are fast eating into the fabric of our nation,” he said. “Food security is a very serious issue and one that is close to the heart of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Agada expressed optimism about the leadership capabilities of the new Director General, noting that the outgoing DG had laid a solid foundation that the incoming administration would build upon.