Le IITA Kano Station hosted students from Cradle to Career Academy, Zawachiki, Kano during an enriching educational visit recently. The visit was designed to expose the students, comprising Junior Secondary School and Primary 6 pupils, to agricultural research, innovation, and career opportunities in agribusiness.
The station administrator, Ado Rabo, warmly received the group and provided an overview of IITA’s work. He explained that while the Kano Station primarily focuses on cowpea, maize, and soybean, other IITA stations in southern Nigeria and countries like Kenya specialize in crops such as yam, cassava, cocoa, banana, plantain, and coffee. Rabo emphasized the institute’s commitment to developing improved seed varieties to help farmers increase yield and reduce production costs. He highlighted the organization’s youth programs designed to spark interest in agriculture among young people.
Mansur Sani of the Cowpea Breeding Unit guided the students to the station’s screen houses. He explained the purpose of the controlled environment, which protects plants from pests and allows for careful crop cross-breeding. Sani demonstrated how crop crosses are made and discussed the goals of improving crop yield, pest resistance, and drought tolerance.
Following the tour, the students visited the Youth in Agribusiness block, where Oluwasegun Babadiya of the YAS team introduced them to aquaculture. He explained the basics of fish farming, including types of ponds and feeding practices, and reinforced the idea that agriculture is a profitable and fulfilling career.
One of the visiting students, Abdulkarim Umar (JSS2), expressed his excitement about the tour. He noted that he learned valuable lessons in fish farming and crop crossing and hopes to work with IITA.
Professor Mohammed Bello Shitu, Executive Director of Cradle to Career Academy, commended the visit’s impact. He remarked that the aim was to expose students to practical agricultural knowledge and inspire future involvement in agribusiness. “We have achieved our objective,” he said, noting the students’ enthusiasm and growing interest in agriculture.
The visit concluded with a tour of the seed storage facility, where students observed how seeds and grains are carefully packed and preserved.
Contributed by Sarah Sallau
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