*EU-UAES DIGISOL PROJECT GETS VALIDATED IN ABUJA*

By: Ugochukwu Iwuji

The European Union partnership project with the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo Imo State and two other Nigerian Universities gains momentum with a validation event in Abuja between the Wednesday 13th December and Thursday 14th December, 2023.

In a media chat, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Christopher Chiedozie Eze, reveals that the event which holds at Fabino Hotels by Top Rank, Gimbiya Street, Area II Garki Abuja, promises to be a milestone in the development of digital solutions for farmers at remote communities of Nigeria in an era of various shades of extreme climatic conditions.

While the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Umuawo, Imo State, is the lead partner in the EU-sponsored project, other Institutions in the partnership include the University of Agriculture Abeokuta and the Al-Hikmah University Ilorin, Kwara State.

The project is aimed at fostering collaborative efforts among the Institutions involved in implementing cutting-edge digital solutions that can be deployed to guarantee adequate food productivity despite acute climatic conditions.

Essentially, the project focuses on educating rural farmers about innovative farming practices through e-learning platforms that can promote sustainable farming techniques.

By so doing, the project seeks to address inherent vulnerability experienced by farmers in rural communities, who are barely literate in the use of digital solutions to circumvent agro-related challenges. It is reassuring that the project also fosters social inclusion by aiming to empower rural women and the youth by enhancing their agricultural skills. This will help to enhance rural social integration and contribute to inclusive growth and eliminate social inequalities.

The two-day validation project in Abuja will be declared open by the Minster of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

There would be a welcome speech at the ceremony by Professor Christopher Chiedozie Eze, Vice-Chancellor of the lead partner, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Umuagwo, Imo State. Remarks will also be taken from the Vice-Chancellors of the other two partnering Institutions of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta and Al-Hikma University, Ilorin.

The crux of the validation workshop would be the discussion of key findings of the project by the Country Project Coordinator, Prof Chris Emenyonu of the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Umuagwo, Imo State, who would also present the over-view of the project in Imo State. Similarly, findings from Kwara State would be shared and discussed by Dr. Tajudeen Ajala of Al-Hikmah University Ilorin while Prof. Dipeolu Adewale of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta will discuss findings from the rural communities of Ogun State.

In the end, the Validation Workshop will be enriched with lectures on key lessons in the promotion of digital solutions and green Agricultural practices in Nigeria as well as on innovative digital solutions for competitiveness and growth of the Nigerian farmer.