IITA–CGIAR and the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited (NAFARL) have signed a memorandum of understanding towards bolstering food security, which the army describes as one of the pathways to peace in the country. The signing of the MoU came after the NAFARL delegation’s previous visits to the IITA headquarters to explore available agricultural innovations.
At the event, held at the NAFARL headquarters in Abuja on June 23, the Deputy Director-General, Partnerships for Delivery, IITA, Dr Tahirou Abdoulaye, signed on behalf of the institute, while the Executive Director, NAFARL, Major General O. M. Dare, signed on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.
The IITA DDG described the partnership as a milestone for IITA and the Nigerian army, reflecting the military’s evolving role as the guardian of national security and an active contributor to national development. He emphasized IITA’s belief that agriculture remains one of the most powerful tools for building peace, restoring stability, and creating prosperity.
He noted that the partnership holds immense promises for Nigeria’s agricultural future, food security, and national resilience. He added that combining IITA’s deep technical expertise and innovations in agriculture with the army’s operational strength and reach had set the stage for strengthening NAFARL’s capacity to become a more productive, resilient, and profitable endeavor.
He added, “For over 50 years, IITA has been at the forefront of agricultural research and development across Africa. We work with partners to improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods and build food systems that are more resilient to climate, conflict, and economic shocks.
“We specialize in developing improved crop varieties, sustainable farming, agribusiness development, capacity building, and creating scalable innovations for smallholder farmers. Our work directly supports national governments, NGOs, and the private sector in the rural communities of Africa.
“Let me express my appreciation to the leadership of the Nigerian army for their commitment to this partnership. As we embark on this journey, IITA remains fully committed to working with NAFARL, offering our expertise, technologies, and people to make this partnership impactful and enduring.”
In his address, the NAFARL ED described the partnership with IITA as one of the pathways for the army to contribute to food security, noting that NAFARL provides a viable and sustainable platform for the Nigerian army to key into the Federal Government’s policy in agriculture for self-sufficiency.
He recalled that NAFARL was established in July 2017 but incorporated as a limited liability company in 2018. This allowed the private sector to participate in the army’s agricultural ventures, which were aimed at “contributing to peace through food security as reflected in the motto of NAFARL.”
He added, “NAFARL’s activities key into the Chief of Army Staff’s Command Philosophy, which is to consolidate the transformation of the Nigerian army towards bequeathing a well-motivated and combat-ready Force that can effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.
“The signing of this MoU is indeed an epoch for us. It will be recalled that the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declared a State of Emergency on food security. He recently directed the armed forces to take advantage of the vast land across the country for agricultural purposes. NAFARL is therefore leveraging its vast arable land and human resources across its formations and units, as food security is among the pillars in the National Security Strategy.
“We are determined to contribute towards ending food insecurity in the country. We cannot do it alone, as farming requires collective effort to achieve better results. On this premise, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede NAM, approved the collaboration with IITA in all agricultural value chains, with the assurance of IITA’s reputation as a notable international research and development organization focused on addressing Africa’s hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation.”
Present at the signing ceremony were the Head of IITA Abuja Station, Dr Beatrice Aighewi; IITA’s Head of Security, David Oluwadare; Acting Director, Nigerian Army Legal Services, Col S. O. Okebukola, represented by the Farm Legal Officer, Major A. Mahmud, and Military Assistant to the Executive Director, Major D. S. Wukari, among others.
Contributed by Babatunde Ajaja
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