From 14-18 January 2019, the Nigeria Strategy Support Program of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI-NSSP) delivered two trainings on “Issues in agriculture and development” for academics and researchers (14-16 January) and policy analysts (17-18 January) in Asaba, Delta State. The 51 participants in both trainings (35 male, 16 female) constituted the academic staff and researchers at Delta State University, as well as staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural resources, the State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority and Fadama III in Delta State. The trainings explored issues around Climate Change Resilience, Land Tenure Security, Agricultural Program Evaluation and Food and Nutrition Security.
The training course was geared at providing some of Nigeria’s analysts with an understanding of the contemporary issues confronting the country’s agricultural sector. Having such understanding would mean an increase in the overall capacity of the country’s analysts to provide the evidence needed for effective decision-making on agriculture.
In giving her feedback on the trainings, Dr. Cordelia Ebenebe, Head of the Animal Science Department at Delta State University thanked the Project stating “you have indeed broadened my horizon in academic research. I will keep in touch to give information on the changes in my research design.”
This capacity building activity is part of the activities of the Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project. The Project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Nigeria) and jointly Implemented by Michigan State University and IFPRI-NSSP.