From Rashidat Suleiman, Minna
The Executive Director of Niger Foods Mrs Patience Koku, has highlighted the importance of agricultural innovation and private sector investment in strengthening food security in Africa.
Mrs Koku made this known while participating as a panellist at the Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN) Conference in Abuja, where she spoke on , “From Lab to Field: Scaling Agricultural Innovation through Public-Private Partnerships for Food Security in Africa.”
In her presentation, she emphasised the need to translate agricultural research and innovations developed by public research institutions into practical solutions for farmers. She noted that bridging the gap between research and commercialisation requires investment, technology transfer and the effective deployment of innovations in the field.
Drawing inspiration from Nobel Laureate Dr Norman Borlaug, Mrs Koku reiterated the message, “Take it to the farmer!”, stressing that agricultural research must deliver tangible outcomes, including increased productivity, improved livelihoods and enhanced food security.
A major highlight of the conference was the presentation of an Award of Excellence to the Governor of Niger State, His Excellency Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, in recognition of his contributions to agricultural development.
The achievements of Niger Foods featured prominently in the agricultural transformation agenda of the Bago administration, particularly in mechanisation, investment and large-scale farming initiatives.
Niger Foods also received an award in recognition of its support for the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, underscoring the company’s commitment to advancing agricultural development and supporting the growth of the sector.
The conference provided a platform for Niger Foods to showcase Niger State’s agricultural transformation efforts and reaffirm its commitment to connecting research, innovation, investment and practical farming solutions.
The engagement reinforced the need to move agricultural innovations from the laboratory to the field to deliver measurable benefits for farmers and strengthen food security across Nigeria and Africa.