By Mu’azu Abubakar Albarkawa, Kaduna
Ahmadu Bello University’s Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) has won a special award as the most outstanding institute with ‘Major Breakthrough in Research/Results’ in Nigeria.
The award, ‘Productivity Specialized Award’, was presented to the Institute on Thursday, 14th October, 2021 by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud Abubakar, presented the award to the Institute through its Executive Director, Prof. Muhammad Faguji Ishiyaku, at a ceremony held at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
The presentation of the award was in commemoration of this year’s World Food Day, which is scheduled to hold on Saturday, 16th October, 2021.
World Food Day is usually marked on 16th October every year to heighten public awareness on the nature and dimension of global food systems and to develop further the sense of national struggle against malnutrition, hunger and poverty.
The notification for the award was first conveyed to the Institute in a letter dated 11th October, 2021 by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe.
“As a critical stakeholder in the development of the agricultural sector, you have been meritoriously selected for ‘Productivity Specialised Award’ in commemoration of the 2021 World Food Day as the most outstanding institute with ‘Major Breakthrough in Research/Results’ for agricultural value chains development”, he said.