By Mustafa Abubakar
The National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE), Prof. Joshua Olaoye, has underscored the Institution’s pivotal role in transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape through mechanisation, innovation, and home-grown technologies aimed at boosting food security, creating jobs, and promoting national prosperity.
Prof. Olaoye, who is also the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Ilorin, gave the assurance last Tuesday (November 18, 2025) while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 25th International Conference and 45th Annual General Meeting of NIAE at the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Idofian, Kwara State. He emphasised the Institution’s commitment to solution-driven engineering that translates research into implementable technologies for smallholder farmers, who constitute the bulk of Nigeria’s farming population.
He said, “As we celebrate 50 years of dedicated service to the agricultural sector, let this gathering mark the dawn of a new era of purposeful engineering; one that translates ideas into implements, research into results, and technology into transformation. Together, we shall drive the mechanisation revolution that Nigeria needs for food security, job creation, and national prosperity.”
Prof. Olaoye highlighted the maiden National Agricultural Machinery Exhibition, organised in collaboration with NCAM, as a platform for bridging the gap between innovation and adoption.
According to him, “This exhibition showcases home-grown and field-tested technologies; tractors, planters, threshers, harvesters, dryers, and processing machines developed by Nigerian engineers and fabricators to enhance productivity, reduce drudgery, and strengthen food security. It demonstrates our readiness to transition from theoretical research to tangible engineering solutions that empower farmers and agripreneurs across the country.”
The NIAE National Chairman also reaffirmed the Institution’s commitment to several strategic objectives, including strengthening collaboration between research institutions, government agencies, and the private sector to accelerate mechanisation.
He disclosed that the Institution plans to promote capacity building and technology transfer for young engineers and artisans, supporting policy advocacy for local fabrication and standardisation of agricultural machinery, and ensuring that agricultural mechanisation remains central to Nigeria’s food security strategy.
In his own remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, emphasised the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and government in advancing mechanisation and agricultural research.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology, and Innovation), Prof. Muhtar Etudaiye, the Vice Chancellor said, “Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy”, adding that “at the University of Ilorin, we are committed to supporting research and fostering innovation that drives agricultural transformation. Through our initiatives and collaborations, we empower the next generation of agricultural engineers to address the challenges facing the sector.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, announced that the Federal Government would establish Agricultural Mechanisation Service Centres in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to him, the centres are designed to provide training, equipment repairs, and coordination of agricultural technologies, ensuring farmers have access to high-quality support and services across the country.
Sen. Kyari said, “Beyond acquisition, our focus remains on standardization, local assembly, and maintenance systems, ensuring that every machine deployed is fit for purpose and supported by skilled technicians.”
The Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, commended the conference and exhibition for promoting collaboration, innovation, and mechanisation, and reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting initiatives that deploy affordable, locally manufactured machinery for smallholder farmers.
“Our government remains committed to initiatives that empower smallholder farmers, who are the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural economy,” he said, emphasising the importance of standardisation, innovation, and technological advancement in sustainable agriculture.
Also addressed the gathering, the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, stressed the importance of leveraging agricultural engineering and innovation to drive mechanisation across Nigeria.
He said, “We recognise the vital role of local engineers, innovators, and institutions in transforming agriculture. With collaborations such as this, and platforms like the National Agricultural Machinery Exhibition, we can drive the mechanisation revolution Nigeria needs for sustainable food production and economic growth.”
The exhibition further showcased local innovations, fostered partnerships, and provided an avenue to accelerate mechanisation, encouraging young engineers and entrepreneurs to embrace practical agricultural technologies.
The gathering brought together leading experts, policymakers, researchers, and innovators from across the world, including researchers from the University of Ilorin, providing a platform to demonstrate technologies, share best practices, and chart a path toward climate-smart, youth-inclusive, and mechanised agriculture across Nigeria.
