Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) are planning a partnership to develop viable commercial agriculture projects, with the financial institution set to assess the university’s agricultural facilities and investment potential.
The move followed a meeting between the leadership of both organisations in Abuja last week, where they signified their intention to build a strong collaboration focused on agribusiness development.
Under the proposed partnership, NIRSAL will first deploy a team of experts to evaluate the university’s agricultural assets and determine the viability of financing and business collaboration.
Speaking during the meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, said the institution welcomed the opportunity to work with NIRSAL in transforming its agricultural resources into commercially viable ventures.
He noted that ABU possesses one of the largest agricultural complexes among Nigerian universities, which provides a strong foundation for a partnership focused on large-scale agricultural production and agribusiness development.
Prof Ahmed also commended the role of the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Mukhtar Idi Maiha, for recommending NIRSAL as a suitable partner to support the university’s plans to expand into commercial agriculture.
According to him, the university is fully prepared for the collaboration, adding that ABU’s existing infrastructure and financial support systems would help drive the initiative.
“ABU has a huge agric complex and also a microfinance bank that could ease the partnership,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor identified the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), one of the university’s specialised research institutes, as the primary location where the agricultural business initiative could be implemented.
He explained that NAPRI already conducts significant research in livestock and animal production, including the development of the ShikaBrown breed.
“The research carried out on ShikaBrown by scientists at NAPRI is indeed a landmark achievement. But taking the project to the market remains a tedious task,” Prof Ahmed said.
He added that one of the mandates of NAPRI is to produce milk for the entire West African region, a goal that could be advanced through investment and commercial-scale production.
“So we need to invest so that the institute can produce all milk needed in the area. This is by way of making it a business venture,” he said.
On his part, NIRSAL Managing Director, Sa’ad Hamidu, said the institution approaches every partnership with a clear focus on business viability.
“There must be a business case wherever we step in,” Hamidu said.
He expressed NIRSAL’s willingness to collaborate with the university but noted that the organisation would first conduct a detailed assessment of the facilities and opportunities available.
“And we need to, first and foremost, visit the project site to do the scoping,” he added.
Hamidu further stressed that any eventual agreement would depend on establishing a clear and workable business partnership between both organisations.
NIRSAL’s relevant heads of units attended the meeting, which was co-chaired by the Managing Director and the Vice-Chancellor. Representatives from Ahmadu Bello University also present included the Director of the Directorate of Advancement and International Education, Prof Muhammad Inuwa Umar-Buratai, Director of Public Affairs Auwalu Umar, and Assistant Director of Advancement, Dr Ahmed Zakaria.
