Gombe’s Agricultural Drive Earns Inuwa Yahaya Top SAA Honour

By Jamila Muhammad

Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has been recognised with a Special Award by the Sasakawa Africa Association for his administration’s strong commitment to agricultural development, food security and rural empowerment.

The honour was presented at the 2026 SAA Nigeria Annual Stakeholders’ Workshop held in Abuja, an event that drew key federal officials, development partners, diplomats and state representatives to deliberate on strengthening Nigeria’s food systems and building agricultural resilience.

The workshop, themed “SAA @ 40: Deepening Impact and Expanding Reach at Scale”, also marked four decades of the organisation’s interventions across Africa.

The organisers said the award reflects Gombe State’s consistent partnership with SAA and its results-driven approach to transforming agriculture. Over the years, the collaboration has supported smallholder farmers through improved extension services, climate-smart practices, enhanced productivity and better rural livelihoods.

Working with support from The Nippon Foundation, the state government has implemented several farmer-focused initiatives targeting food security, nutrition and inclusive agricultural growth, especially for women, youth and vulnerable farmers.

SAA Nigeria Country Director Dr Godwin Atser said the recognition was based on tangible impact and leadership.

According to him, the award highlights how purposeful governance and sustained investment can drive meaningful change in the agricultural sector. He noted that Gombe’s commitment to farmer-centred programmes demonstrates what is possible when political will aligns with practical action.

Receiving the award on behalf of the governor, Director of Agriculture in the State Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Dr Ibrahim Sajo, expressed appreciation for the recognition and reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to strengthen partnerships that directly benefit farmers.

He said the honour validates the state government’s deliberate focus on agriculture as a key pathway to economic growth, poverty reduction and long-term sustainability.

The partnership between Gombe State and SAA has delivered a range of interventions, including farmer learning platforms, community savings and investment schemes, private extension services and community-based seed multiplication programmes.

These initiatives have improved farmers’ access to modern techniques, quality inputs and markets, while strengthening local institutions and promoting collaboration among stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.

With these outcomes, stakeholders say Gombe’s model continues to stand out as a strong example of how strategic partnerships can drive agricultural transformation and rural prosperity in Nigeria.

NAPRI Targets 25,000 Chicks in 2025/2026 Hatching Drive

By Musa Garba, Kaduna

The National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has launched its 2025/2026 annual chick production programme, setting its sights on producing about 25,000 chicks to strengthen poultry breeding and support Nigeria’s livestock sector.

This was disclosed in a statement issued in Zaria by the university’s Director of Public Affairs, Malam Auwalu Umar, who said the exercise officially commenced on March 31 and has already yielded over 3,000 chicks in its opening phase.

He explained that the newly hatched birds consist of Shikabrown grandparent stock and broiler foundation stock, which will largely serve as replacement birds for the institute’s breeding population.

According to him, the institute’s new production goal represents a significant jump from the 17,000 chicks recorded in the last hatching cycle, underscoring NAPRI’s effort to scale up output and respond to increasing demand in the poultry industry.

Umar further stated that the programme is aimed at strengthening hatchery operations nationwide through the provision of improved parent stock layers as well as Shikabrown pullet commercial layers, which are expected to benefit both commercial poultry operators and small-scale farmers.

During an inspection visit to the poultry brooding unit in Shika, Zaria, the Acting Executive Director of NAPRI, Prof. Muhammad-Rabiu Hassan, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, describing the exercise as smooth and encouraging.

He said the institute remained on course to achieve its target and praised the support received from the Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Maiha, and the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, for their roles in advancing the programme.

The annual hatching exercise is regarded as one of NAPRI’s key contributions to poultry improvement in Nigeria, especially in the development and supply of quality breeding stock to farmers and hatcheries across the country.

Agriculture partnership: Gov. Yahaya to get Sasakawa’s Special Award

By Peter Osagie, Gombe

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State will be honoured with a Special Recognition Award by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Nigeria, in acknowledgement of the state’s sustained partnership and strategic commitment to agricultural development.

The award will be presented at the 2026 SAA Nigeria Annual Stakeholders Workshop on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Abuja, where top federal officials, development partners, diplomats, and state governments are expected to gather to discuss pathways for strengthening Nigeria’s food systems.

The workshop, held at Rockview Royale Hotel, Wuse II, is themed “SAA @ 40: Deepening Impact and Expanding Reach at Scale”.

The recognition of Governor Inuwa Yahaya reflects the depth of Gombe State’s collaboration with SAA over the years, which has supported agricultural extension, smallholder productivity, and rural livelihoods.

Since its creation in 1996, Gombe State has maintained a working relationship with SAA, funded by the Nippon Foundation, to implement initiatives that improve food security, nutrition, climate resilience, and inclusive agricultural services, with particular attention to women, youth, and resource-poor farmers.

Speaking ahead of the workshop, Dr. Godwin Atser, Country Director of SAA Nigeria, said:

“This recognition celebrates a partnership backed by action. Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s leadership reflects the kind of subnational commitment essential for transforming agriculture in Nigeria.

Gombe State’s sustained support for farmer-focused interventions demonstrates what can be achieved when political will, institutional alignment, and practical investment converge.”

SAA Nigeria’s collaboration with Gombe State encompasses a wide range of interventions, including Farmer Learning Platforms (FLP), Community Savings and Investment in Agriculture (CSIA), Private Extension Service Provision (PESP), and Community-Based Seed Multiplication (CBSM), among others. Together, these initiatives strengthen the agricultural ecosystem from production to post-harvest, improve access to technology, knowledge, and markets, and enhance the capacities of farmers and rural actors.

The partnership also encourages pluralistic extension systems, involving the private sector, farmer organisations, research institutions, and civil society in scaling agricultural services across the state. This multi-dimensional cooperation underscores why Gombe State’s collaboration is deserving of recognition.

As SAA marks 40 years of operations in Africa and 33 years in Nigeria, the organisation notes that sustainable agricultural transformation requires long-term commitment, collaboration, and strategic investment, qualities exemplified by Gombe State and Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

The recognition will be part of a broader conversation at the 2026 Annual Stakeholders Workshop, which will review SAA’s 2021–2025 achievements, share lessons, and explore future partnerships to strengthen agriculture in Nigeria and across Africa.

About Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA)

The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) was established in 1986 by Japanese philanthropist Ryoichi Sasakawa, Nobel Laureate Dr Norman Borlaug, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Dedicated to improving the productivity, profitability, and resilience of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, SAA operates through agricultural extension, capacity building, and systems strengthening. Active in Nigeria since 1993, SAA collaborates with governments, research institutions, universities, private sector actors, and development partners to advance farmer-centred agricultural transformation.