Sankara Nigeria Limited has organised an Agricultural Mechanization Sensitization Programme at Bayero University Kano (BUK) to inspire students to embrace careers in agriculture, agribusiness and agricultural mechanization as pathways to self-reliance and national development.
The workshop, which attracted students, academics and stakeholders in the agricultural sector, aimed to expose participants to emerging opportunities in agricultural innovation, mechanization and entrepreneurship while changing the perception of agriculture as a profitable and rewarding profession.
Speaking at the event, the Communications Manager of Sankara Nigeria Limited, Sururat Sadik Muhammad, said the programme was designed to empower young people with knowledge and inspire them to take advantage of opportunities within the agricultural value chain.
She noted that the initiative seeks to change youths’ perception of agriculture by demonstrating its profitability and long-term economic benefits.
According to her, increasing youth participation in agriculture would not only create employment but also contribute significantly to improving food security across the country.
Also speaking, the Marketing Manager for Overseas Marketing at Weichai LOVOL, Vincent Wan, highlighted the company’s commitment to advancing modern agriculture through innovative mechanized solutions.
He said Weichai LOVOL provides a wide range of agricultural machinery, including tractors, combine harvesters and farm implements covering the entire farming cycle, as well as smart agriculture technologies that integrate telematics and intelligent management systems to support precision farming.
He added that the company also manufactures construction equipment such as wheel loaders, excavators and backhoe loaders.
In his keynote address, Engineer Sulaiman Galadanci from BUK stressed that the future of agriculture depends on embracing modern mechanization while attracting more young people into the sector.
He explained that agricultural mechanization improves productivity by reducing labour requirements, increasing the speed and timeliness of farm operations, lowering production costs, enhancing product quality and reducing post-harvest losses.
Galadanci called on governments to provide enabling policies and critical infrastructure while urging the private sector to invest in machinery production, equipment hiring services and agricultural innovation.
He also challenged universities and research institutions to continue developing locally appropriate technologies, while encouraging farmers to adopt improved farming practices and young people to approach agriculture with creativity, determination and an entrepreneurial mindset.
The Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Bayero University Kano, Dr. Nuruddeen Mukhtar Nasidi, and the Presidrnt Students’ Union Government (SUG) BUK, represented by the Treasurer, Comrade Bello John Olalekan, described the workshop as timely and impactful, expressing confidence that it would contribute significantly to the advancement of agricultural and environmental engineering as well as mechanization in Nigeria.