Nigeria establishes agric mechanisation devt. institute in Lafia

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has established Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI) in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Speaking at the groundbreaking of the institute on Monday in Lafia, Executive Vice-Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Haruna, said the development was part of the federal government’s intervention in agriculture to revolutionise farming and food processing in Nigeria, using technology.

He said that the institute had the mandate of building on the successes of NASENI in the production of agricultural equipment from cultivation through the food value chain to post-harvest, processing and food preservation.

Haruna said that the institute would serve as a pilot location for the implementation of the agreement between Nigeria and Czech Republic on research, development of equipment and training of Nigerians in the field of agriculture.

He said that the institute would also focus on processing agricultural waste for renewable energy.

“The institute will also serve as a pilot location for the implementation of an agreement between NASENI and a Jordanian agency on food safety to guarantee quality and acceptability of Nigeria’s farm produce for export,” Haruna added.

Also speaking, Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, commended NASENI for championing the course of technological innovation and advancement in the country.

Represented by Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Foreign Affairs and Development Strategies, Amb. Abdullahi Omaki, Gambari assured that the present administration would continue to leverage science and technology to drive agricultural development in the country.

In his address, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State lauded the federal government for establishing AMEDI in Lafia.

He noted that the establishment of the centre was geared toward transforming the agriculture sector into an industrial hub through job creation, youth empowerment, skills acquisition and value addition.

Sule said that AMEDI would complement the role of the state’s skills acquisition development centres and deepen the availability of skilled manpower to match the influx of companies coming to do business in the state.

He assured that the state government would continue collaborating with NASENI for other interventions to galvanise its development efforts.

In his remarks, the President, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Mr Ali Rabiu, congratulated NASENI for living up to its mandate.

He said that COREN would support the centre with a curriculum that would ensure the production of quality and top-notch graduates who would be ready to deliver indigenous facilities, equipment and infrastructure that would address the country’s socio-economic challenges. (NAN)