Seeds
In the bid to implement the Green Alternative Initiative programme of the Federal Government, and extend its services to other countries, the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has announced the establishment of Centre of Excellence, in Shedda, Abuja.
The Director General of NASC, Dr. Philip O. Ojo, who disclosed this during the three-day capacity building training programme for the non-directorate cadre members of staff of the agency drawn from Umudike, Abia State (Southeast) and Asaba, Delta State, regional offices, held at the Ladies of St. Mulumba Centre for Women and Youth Empowerment, Owerri, Imo State, said the centre would take off next year.
Represented by the Director of Seed Information Data Management and Capacity Building (SIDM &CB), Alhaji Salisu G. Ahmed, Ojo, said the development partners, include the authorities of FADAMA III, World Bank and others, adding that they have showed visible support in partnering the NASC to achieve the objective of setting up the centre.
He said: ‘’The council is now working towards establishing what we call Centre of Excellence because it is official that 80 per cent of the seed that are used in West Africa are coming from Nigeria.