The Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Professor Haruna Musa Musa, fsi, on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, formally launched the Skills Improvement to Boost Livelihood and Nurture Growth (SIBLING) Project, describing it as the beginning of a transformative journey for the university community, especially students and junior staff who will directly benefit from the intervention.
Speaking at the launch, the Vice-Chancellor said the SIBLING initiative was a carefully designed response to pressing challenges facing agricultural education and food security in Nigeria. He explained that the two-year pilot programme is aimed at bridging the long-standing gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills, a gap that has limited the employability and productivity of agriculture graduates.
He noted that by equipping students with hands-on experience and relevant technical skills, the university is positioning them to become more competitive and productive in the agricultural sector.
The Chairperson of the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), Dr Salamatu Garba, who spearheaded the initiative in collaboration with the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) and the Faculty of Agriculture, said the project seeks to promote improved farming production and processing practices among younger students and wives of junior staff.
According to her, the goal is to help beneficiaries become self-reliant and to embrace agriculture as a sustainable source of income amid rapid population growth, rising food demand, and persistent food shortages. She stressed that empowering young people and women through practical agriculture is critical to strengthening food systems and improving livelihoods.
In his remarks, the Director of the Centre for Dryland Agriculture, Professor Sanusi Gaya Mohammed, said the SIBLING Project is deliberately people-centred, with a strong focus on students, women, youth, and other vulnerable groups in society. He explained that the partnership between WOFAN and CDA would harmonise expertise to promote best agricultural practices, strengthen agro-processing and value-chain addition, and advance inclusive value-chain development.
The Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Aminu Sulaiman, stated that the initiative would provide agriculture students with access to demonstration plots for rice, maize, and groundnut production. He added that students would also receive hands-on training using modern equipment for processing, packaging, and marketing these crops, thereby improving their practical competence and market readiness.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the former Vice-Chancellor of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Professor Shehu Alhaji Musa; the immediate past Director of CDA, Professor Jibrin Mohammed Jibrin; and the NASU-BUK Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Nasiru AbdulRafiu.
The immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Muhammad Auwal Hussaini, delivered the vote of thanks. He expressed appreciation to all partners, stakeholders, and participants for their support toward the successful launch of the project.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Professor Sani Miko, warmly welcomed participants and described the event as a flagship programme initiated by WOFAN in collaboration with the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) and the Faculty of Agriculture.
As part of the event, the WOFAN Chairperson (International Group), Hajiya Dr. Salamatu Garba, distributed 2,617 bags of rice to 550 junior staff members of BUK, security personnel, casual staff, staff of the Registry Department, the Faculty of Agriculture and CDA, as well as outsourced cleaning staff drawn from 22 companies.
Beneficiaries expressed deep appreciation to WOFAN for the gesture, describing it as timely support on the eve of the Ramadan fast. They prayed for continued success for the organisation. One beneficiary, Malama Zainab Ibrahim, a cleaner, described the intervention as exceptional, saying, “You have truly come to our aid and supported us in a way that deserves more than commendation.”
