ABU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has developed a comprehensive, evidence-based blueprint aimed at transforming agriculture and strengthening human capacity development in Zamfara State.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, presented the integrated proposal to Governor Dauda Lawal during the commissioning of an upgraded departmental library at the university’s Department of Political Science and International Studies.
Governor Lawal, an alumnus of the department where he graduated in 1988, funded the full refurbishment of the library.
Prof Ahmed said the blueprint was produced through the university’s leading research and development institutions—the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Institute of Education, and the Institute of Administration.
He disclosed that the proposal comes at no cost to the Zamfara State Government, adding that it harmonises crop research, climate resilience models, livestock innovation, last-mile extension delivery, and civil service capacity development into a single transformation agenda.
According to him, the interventions will be delivered through a train-the-trainer model, supported largely by ABU’s Distance Learning Centre, to rebuild crop and livestock productivity, enhance household and community resilience to climate shocks, and mitigate insecurity-related disruptions.
The Vice-Chancellor added that the blueprint also targets the modernization of extension services and the capacity development of ministries, the ADP, cooperatives, civil service structures, teacher service boards, and community-level actors.
He said the proposal equally seeks to reinforce the ongoing reforms in Zamfara’s civil service by offering structured training for senior, middle, and directorate-level officers.
Prof Ahmed commended Governor Lawal for repositioning the public service through merit-based appointments, including the introduction of examinations for selecting permanent secretaries, as well as for his administration’s commitment to continuous training for procurement officers, auditors, and administrative personnel.
In his remarks, Governor Dauda Lawal thanked the university for what he described as a timely and visionary intervention.
He expressed deep appreciation to ABU for its formative role in his life and pledged continued support to his alma mater.
