Muhammad Garba
In a decisive move to reposition agriculture as a driver of economic growth and food security, the Jigawa State Government has deepened its strategic partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, signaling a new phase in the state’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The renewed collaboration was underscored on Tuesday at the Government House in Dutse, when a high-level delegation from IITA, led by the institute’s Deputy Director-General, Mr. Abdoulaye Tahirou, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Malam Umar Namadi. Mr. Tahirou represented the Director-General of IITA.
Speaking during the visit, Mr. Tahirou commended the Jigawa State Government for the warm reception and the clarity of vision demonstrated in its agricultural priorities. He disclosed that the delegation had already engaged in intensive technical sessions with state officials, culminating in a clear, concise, and implementable agricultural transformation plan tailored specifically to Jigawa’s needs.
“We are fully ready, as technical partners, to work shoulder by shoulder with His Excellency and the people of Jigawa State to implement this plan,” he said, stressing IITA’s commitment to delivering practical, results-oriented solutions.
According to him, the IITA team comprises experts in crop breeding, soil science, nutrition, seed systems, and key crops cultivated in Jigawa State—expertise he described as critical to boosting productivity, resilience, and farmer incomes. He also formally requested the regularisation of land that IITA has used for research activities in the state for nearly 25 years, noting that formal documentation would further solidify the long-standing partnership.
In his response, Governor Namadi described the visit as timely and strategic, coming shortly after the state government’s own visit to IITA headquarters in Ibadan. He recalled being deeply impressed by the institute’s infrastructure and depth of human capacity, describing IITA as a centre of excellence with the potential to transform agriculture not only in Jigawa State, but across Nigeria.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and our smallholder farmers are very dear to us,” the Governor said. “To truly empower them, we must combine sound policy direction with expert technical support. That is why this partnership with IITA is extremely important to us.”
Governor Namadi emphasized that his administration has deliberately repositioned farming as a business rather than subsistence activity, with a strong focus on improving yields, reducing production costs, and increasing profitability for farmers. He noted that sustained expert guidance and research-driven interventions remain central to achieving these objectives.
The Governor assured the IITA delegation of the state’s readiness to implement the jointly developed work plan and sustain the collaboration, which he described as a win-win partnership with direct benefits for farmers and long-term gains for food security and economic stability.
He further invited IITA experts to work closely with Jigawa State’s research and academic institutions, saying such engagement would deepen innovation, strengthen local capacity, and ensure that global best practices are effectively adapted to local realities.
With this renewed commitment, Jigawa State appears poised to leverage science, technology, and strategic partnerships to unlock the full potential of its agricultural sector—placing farmers at the heart of its development agenda.
