IAR and Kaduna State Media Corporation Strengthen Ties for Better Farmer Awareness and Agricultural Transformation
Today, 30th September 2025, the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, welcomed a high-powered delegation from the Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC) on a courtesy visit aimed at renewing and strengthening the strategic partnership between the two institutions in advancing agricultural development and farmer education across Nigeria.
The delegation was led by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of KSMC, Mr. Ben S. D. Kure, accompanied by seven distinguished directors and media professionals from the corporation. They were warmly received on behalf of the Executive Director, Prof. Ado Yusuf, by the Deputy Director, Prof. Nafiu Abdu, along with other members of the IAR management team.
In his remarks, Mr. Kure expressed deep appreciation for the exceptional work IAR has been doing over the decades in transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector. He described IAR as “the number one research institute in the country in terms of visibility, relevance, and direct impact on farmers’ lives,” commending its cutting-edge research, innovations, and farmer-oriented technologies that continue to shape agricultural practices nationwide.
He explained that the purpose of the visit was twofold: first, to rekindle the longstanding relationship between KSMC and IAR, and second, to explore new avenues for collaboration in ensuring that accurate, science-based agricultural information reaches farmers and the general public. Mr. Kure emphasized that with the rapid growth of misinformation in the media space—especially through social platforms—farmers are often misled by unverified claims about agricultural technologies, inputs, and practices. He noted that a strong partnership between IAR and KSMC will help close this gap by delivering the right information, from the right sources, at the right time.
Responding, Prof. Nafiu Abdu, on behalf of the Executive Director, thanked the Managing Director and his team for what he described as an “August visit” and reaffirmed IAR’s commitment to working closely with KSMC to ensure that the right messages and research findings reach farmers in ways that are clear, practical, and impactful. He added that the collaboration will not only enhance farmer productivity and food security but will also help counter misinformation that often undermines national agricultural goals.
Both parties discussed several potential areas of collaboration, including regular media features on new technologies developed by IAR, farmer sensitization programs, joint public enlightenment campaigns, and capacity-building initiatives for rural communicators. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen this renewed partnership for the benefit of farmers, researchers, and the entire agricultural value chain.
This renewed alliance between IAR and KSMC marks a significant step forward in bridging the gap between research and the field—ensuring that farmers acrossV Nigeria receive reliable, research-based knowledge to boost productivity, improve livelihoods, and strengthen national food security.
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