The Director of the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA), Sanusi Gaya Mohammed, has led members of the Centre’s management team on an inspection tour of the SIBLING Project facilities ahead of their official commissioning.
The SIBLING Project is a collaborative initiative involving the CDA, the Faculty of Agriculture, and the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), aimed at strengthening agribusiness training, value addition, and capacity development among beneficiaries.
Members of the inspection team included the Deputy Director (Training), Professor Murtala Mohammed Badamasi; Deputy Director (Research and Innovation), Dr Mustapha Mohammed Bello; and Deputy Director (Outreach and Partnership), Dr Amina Lawan Mustapha.
During the visit, the team assessed the level of work at the processing hub and inspected newly installed rice and maize processing machines, as well as production and training facilities designed to provide practical, hands-on learning for participants.
The SIBLING Project is expected to train about 300 students annually, with a focus on women and wives of staff, equipping them with practical skills in agricultural processing, agribusiness management, and value addition.
Speaking during the inspection, Professor Mohammed commended WOFAN for its significant investment in the project and reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to strategic partnerships that promote women’s empowerment, capacity building, and sustainable dryland agriculture.
He noted that the project would enhance practical training opportunities and contribute to improving livelihoods through agribusiness development.
The commissioning of the SIBLING Project facilities is expected to mark a major milestone in advancing agricultural innovation, skills development, and inclusive economic empowerment within the university community and beyond.
