Monday 21^st March 2022

The Executive Director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, paid a courtesy call on the Secretary-General of the Association of African Universities (AAU), Prof. Olusola Oyewole, for bilateral talks between the two continental bodies. Accompanying the FARA boss was Ms. Ama Pokua Asenso, Human Resource and Administration Manager. From the AAU side, the Director of ICT, Communications and Knowledge Management , Ms. Nodumo Dhlamini, joined the Secretary General to receive the delegation.

FARA is Africa’s apex organization responsible for coordinating and advocating for agricultural research for development and also serves as the technical arm of the African Union Commission on agriculture science, technology and innovation.

According to Dr. Akinbamijo, despite Africa’s huge natural resources, the continent remains brain rich but pocket poor because agriculture, the mainstay of the African economy, loses its graduates to other sectors. He expressed the fear that unless there is a paradigm shift towards the application of science, technology and innovation in the agriculture sector, the continent would continue to be a net importer of food. It is in light of these sector challenges that FARA has committed to raise the quality of post graduate education to strengthen agricultural production in Africa and seeks a collaboration with the AAU to actualize this vision.

Prof. Oyewole expressed the AAU’s readiness to partner with FARA on this noble course.  The two organizational heads agreed to implement this through a memorandum of understanding which will establish the key initiatives to be undertaken towards achieving the set targets.