By: Femi-Adeniyi Joshua

On Monday, 22nd of July, 2024, representatives of the Food and Agricultural Organization paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan’s office.

Professor Olapegba, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor who received the visitors on behalf of the Vice-chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale commended the delegation for their collaborative efforts, emphasizing that addressing hunger is key to reducing poverty.

He expressed optimism that the partnership will improve food production and enhance the nutritional value of available food, while also affirming the University’s support, for such an initiative.

“Efforts aimed at improving food production would naturally elicit a positive response from us,” the Deputy Vice-Chancellor said.

The purpose of the visit, according to the leader of the delegation, Dr. Austin Sankus, was to “identify additional resources, strengthen the partnership with the University of Ibadan, update the University management on the outcomes of their collaboration with the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, and further expand the collaboration with the department”.

Speaking on, Dr. Sankus explained that the USAID-funded Rice-Fish Production Project was initiated in 2019 to enhance the nutritional value of rice in Nigeria.

A Co-Principal Investigator on the project, Professor Bamidele Omitogun, of the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, explained that FAO has been collaborating with the department for the past four years and that the collaboration has been in conjunction with the University of Georgia, with a focus on integrating rice with fish (IRF) in Kebbi and Ebonyi states.

Credit: Directorate of public communications, University of Ibadan.