The Hon Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has inaugurated governing council for the institute of soil science, asked them to ensure a strategy that would enhance agricultural productivity through the appropriate use of soil by extension services across the nation.
Alhaji Nanono said this in a statement issued yesterday by the department of information of the ministry and signed by Mrs. Eno Oluotu, a deputy director.The Director, Human Resource Department in the Ministry, Alhaji Abba Abdullahi, who represented the minister said in a statement that the appointment of council members is a clear indication of hard work, dedication, expertise, and experience they will bring to bear in the improvement of the institute.
Nanono said the ministry intends “to turn Nigeria into a global powerhouse in food production with a view to enhancing the quality of soil data generation for appropriate analysis, validation, reporting, monitoring and integration with other related intra- and inter-sectoral linkages through effective harmonization of methods, measurement and indicators”.
The minister commended the 5-year strategic action plan launched by the Institute in March 2020, stating that, “it is being implemented along with the objective of managing and protecting soil resources as well as encouraging technical cooperation on soil extension services.
Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof Ayoade Ogunkunle in the statement said that the council has worked assiduously in pursuing the mission of the Institute which amongst others include: to regulate the practice of soil science in Nigeria in order to increase productivity for all stakeholders and ensure high agricultural productivity and food security.
He enumerated the achievements of the council during its first tenure to include: the development and implementation of a 5-year strategic action plan, the establishment of zonal offices for ease of monitoring of activities at the grassroots, inventorization programme to ensure soil analytical laboratories meet international standards, and distribution of 240no soil test kits across the geopolitical zonal offices.
Others are; the development of the draft National Agricultural Soil Management Policy, acquisition of land space for the state of art Analytical reference laboratory in Kaduna, nearing completion, and also the mandatory continuous professional education to update its members with new development in the profession.
Prof Ogunkunle assured the minister that the council under his chairmanship will adhere strictly to the mandate of their duties for the benefits of smallholders’ farmers at the grassroots.
In his vote of thanks, the registrar of the Institute, Prof Victor. Chude, applauded the minister for the approval of laboratory spaces with additional space at the Kaduna soil laboratory in Kaduna and the overall support of the ministry in enabling the Institute to attain its mandate so far.
He expressed appreciation to the Council for the enormous cooperation, support, and commitment to the growth of the Institute while soliciting for more in going forward to enable the Institute to continue on the path to achieving its objective as the foremost regulatory Institute for Soil Science and agricultural practice in Nigeria.
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