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.

2026 Rainfall Outlook Critical for Farmers’ Success, Says Bauchi Agric Agency

The Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP) has emphasised that the Seasonal Climate Prediction remains an indispensable guide for farmers, offering early insights into expected weather conditions and rainfall trends.

The Programme Manager, Mr Ya’u Muhammad, disclosed this during a media chat in Bauchi on Monday, explaining that accurate climate forecasts play a decisive role in determining farm productivity.

According to him, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) is responsible for issuing yearly seasonal outlooks that inform farmers about the likely timing of rainfall commencement and cessation, its spread, sunshine levels, and possible threats such as flooding, drought, pest invasions, and disease outbreaks.

“We held detailed consultations at the national level and obtained critical data that will soon be transmitted to farmers throughout Bauchi State,” Muhammad stated.

He further explained that a recent stakeholders’ meeting served as a major avenue for collaboration between the agency and agricultural professionals. The forum featured experts from the Institute of Agricultural Research, Lake Chad Research Institute, and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University.

Muhammad assured that the technical forecast would be translated into simple language, especially Hausa, to enable rural farmers to easily grasp and apply the information.

Describing the 2026 outlook as highly significant, he urged farmers to comply strictly with the recommendations in order to maximise harvests.

He also pledged that BSADP would support farmers with improved, climate-smart and disease-tolerant seed varieties, along with timely advisories and early warnings for areas vulnerable to floods or prolonged dry spells.

To guarantee broad awareness, Muhammad said the programme would leverage radio, television, and digital platforms to circulate the information widely, with the overarching aim of boosting food production and enhancing food security across the state.

Plan International, ZCRA Mobilise 178 Yobe Communities in Bold Tree-Planting Drive

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu

In a decisive effort to combat climate change and the creeping threat of desertification in Yobe State, Plan International, in partnership with the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance, has empowered youths and women across 178 affected communities through a large-scale sensitisation and tree-planting campaign.

The two-day initiative, held in the Pompomari and Nayi-Nawa communities of the Damaturu Local Government Area, focused on educating residents about the environmental and socio-economic value of trees while distributing certified seedlings suited to the local soil.

Speaking during the campaign in Damaturu, the Social and Behavioural Change Communications Officer of Plan International, Nubwa Ibrahim Bawuro, explained that the programme forms part of a broader resilience project being implemented under the alliance.

“Our team was recently in Adamawa, and today we are in Yobe to carry out this tree-planting campaign aimed at strengthening community resilience against climate change,” she said.

Bawuro noted that the intervention is designed to help communities cope with the increasing impact of climate change, particularly in areas experiencing environmental stress. Following a needs assessment that identified a shortage of tree cover in Pompomari and Nayi-Nawa, the team procured and distributed 200 climate-certified seedlings, alongside guidance on how to protect and nurture them.

She stressed that beyond distribution, the goal is to promote sustained awareness of proper tree care to ensure long-term environmental sustainability and effective climate change mitigation.

During the sensitisation session, environmental expert Mohammad Paga delivered a detailed lecture on the dangers posed by climate change and the urgent need for tree planting, especially in frontline local government areas such as Geidam, Yusufari, Machina, Yunusari, Bade, Jakusko, Nguru and Karasuwa.

Paga lamented that nearly a dozen local government areas in the state have experienced significant desert encroachment since its creation in 1991. He urged residents to safeguard the seedlings from stray animals and ensure consistent care.

“Protecting these trees will help create a healthier and more conducive environment for your communities,” he advised.

Also contributing, Dr. Babagana Bosso of Yobe State University, represented by Mohammed AbdulRahaman, encouraged beneficiaries to recognise the long-term economic and environmental value of the trees. He explained that, when fully grown, the trees could provide timber, woodlots, medicinal resources, fruits and shade, while also improving soil fertility for farmers through compost generation.

He further highlighted the importance of correct transplanting methods, including digging adequately sized holes to give seedlings a strong start.

Community leaders, including the District Head of Nayi-Nawa, Alhaji Abba Kalli Murfama, and the Ward Head of Pompomari, Lawan Modu, expressed gratitude to Plan International for the initiative. Youth and women’s groups also commended the organisation for equipping them with both knowledge and practical support in their collective fight against desertification.

They described the intervention as timely and impactful, reaffirming their commitment to nurturing the trees and securing a greener future for their communities.