Sen Alli Leads Push For Agricultural Transformation As Legislative Summit Holds In Ibadan
By Seth Omotade
The Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions has announced plans to hold its maiden National Legislative Summit and Expo, aimed at strengthening agricultural education and enhancing food security in Nigeria.
The summit is scheduled to take place from May 12 to May 15, 2026, at the South-West Zonal Centre of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, (IITA) Oyo State.
It will be held under the theme: “Unfolding the Potentials of Agricultural Colleges and Institutions Through Collaboration and Innovation to Enhance Food Security and Job Creation.
The event comes amid growing calls for increased investment in agriculture as a means of ensuring sustainable food security in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre at Iyaganku, Ibadan, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions and Oyo State governorship aspirant, Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, said the summit would focus on addressing challenges in the agricultural sector, as well as developing effective legislation and policies to improve food security across the country.
He said the summit will also serve as a platform to explore strategies for boosting food production, encouraging youth participation in agriculture, and creating employment through innovation and institutional collaboration.
“We must have the right kind of legislation in place to be able to assist, this will go a long way in ensuring that we have institutions, area of curriculum, collaborations among institution, agencies and other international agencies for collaboration among all of us including the national assembly and the executive which is the ministry of agriculture. This will also go a long way to ensure that there is job opportunity for youth and women in the country” he said.
He added that the committee has initiated partnerships with development organisations to support farmers through mechanized land preparation, cultivation, harvesting, and improved access to markets, with a strong focus on empowering youths and women.
He further revealed that solar-powered dryers have been deployed in some communities to minimize post-harvest losses, enhance food preservation, and boost value addition in agricultural produce.
The lawmaker added that more than 28 agricultural institutions, as well as about 12 embassies and international development organisations, such as the European Union, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, British High Commission, and the Embassy of Malaysia, are expected to participate in the summit.
Speaking earlier, the Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akeem Abas, said the planned summit comes at a crucial time when renewed attention is needed to revitalize Nigeria’s agricultural sector and strengthen food systems.
He applauded Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli for championing the initiative, noting that such efforts could drive meaningful reforms and position Nigeria more competitively within Africa’s agricultural landscape.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, is expected to lead discussions during the summit, while the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will attend as the Special Guest of Honour.
The press briefing was attended by the Executive Director of the National Horticultural Research Institute, Mohammed Lawal Atanda; the Acting Executive Director of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Adedeji Abiodun Rasheed; and the Executive Director of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Oluwatosin Gabriel, alongside other notable dignitaries.
The gathering is set to convene lawmakers, key players in the agricultural sector, academics, researchers, and students to examine policies and innovative approaches for strengthening agricultural institutions across the country.
