The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), together with House of Dorcas Integrated Services (HDI), Kyler Holdings, and IFSERAR, held a major stakeholders’ meeting and public workshop on November 18, 2025. The event focused on improving food security through international partnerships and included a visiting delegation from Brazil. Policymakers, researchers, industry experts, and development partners were all in attendance.
Speaking on behalf of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Angel Adelaja-Kuye, said the visit from HDI and its Brazilian partners shows strong confidence in Ogun State’s farming potential and institutions like FUNAAB. She also mentioned the state’s success in cotton farming, noting that Ogun farmers grew 4,500 hectares of cotton in 2021 and were the only group that fully repaid their loans under the project.
Dr. Adelaja-Kuye further announced that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Cotton Resurgence Initiative, Ogun State will host a $2.5 billion cotton processing factory. The factory is expected to process 1,000 tons of cotton daily, produce about four million garments, and create around 250 million direct and indirect jobs along the cotton value chain.
Earlier, FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor Professor Babatunde Kehinde (represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Olawale Dairo) praised the partnership and said the university remains committed to promoting agricultural innovation. He encouraged participants to share ideas and support research-based solutions for sustainable farming.
A keynote lecture was given by Professor Luiz Lani from the Federal University of Viçosa in Brazil. He noted that Nigeria and Brazil face similar agricultural challenges and stressed the need for cooperation. He also shared that his university offers free Master’s and PhD programs in English for international students and is ready to deepen its partnership with FUNAAB.
Dr. Ronaldo Trecenti, an agricultural engineer and CEO of Pio Consultoria Agroambiental, spoke about the importance of sustainable farming and modern environmental practices. He highlighted Brazil’s progress in precision farming, soil care, and water management, and expressed interest in working with Ogun State institutions to apply similar methods.
Other speakers included Professor Victor Olowe, former AMREC Director; Professor Akin Omotayo, former IFSERAR Director; and Professor John Oyedepo, Deputy Director of IFSERAR. They discussed the need for research-based farming, better extension services, farmer training, and turning university research into practical solutions for farmers.
The experts praised the Nigeria–Brazil partnership and encouraged continued cooperation to support technology transfer, improve policies, and get more young people involved in agriculture. They agreed that long-term collaboration is key to solving Nigeria’s food security problems.
The workshop also created an opportunity for detailed discussions on modern farming techniques, international partnerships, and ways to build a strong and sustainable food system. Participants examined how research can be applied directly to areas like crop production, mechanisation, and better use of natural resources.
