The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar has commissioned the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), regional facilitator’s offices and hostel facility, stating that it would fast-track agricultural techniques, boost production and generate foreign exchange by providing requisite training for stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
Speaking during the commissioning today (September 9, 2022) in Abuja, he said the Institute would help the ministry in achieving its mandate to ensure food security in crops, livestock and fisheries, hence stimulating agricultural employment and services.
Abubakar added that the facilitators of the institute would be provided with a work space which has the ambience required to imbue knowledge in the Participants.
He revealed that the institute has been building fast-growing networks and collaborations with local and international agencies in the area of capacity building in agriculture and rural development.
“The institute has signed memoranda of understanding with organisations such as the Washington State University (WSU) on capacity-building in organic agriculture, the commonwealth of learning, Canada, in capacity-building of various categories of stakeholders in the agricultural sector.’’
He pointed out that, there was a need to build more mutual benefiting networks and grow with relevant stakeholders in the agricultural and rural management capacity-building sub-sector for greater impact in the sector.
The minister lauded the management of the institute for capacity development and empowerment of thousands of smallholder farmers as well as other actors along agricultural commodity value chains especially extension agents, aggregators and exporters.
He, therefore, advised the management of the institute to ensure regular and consistent maintenance of the facility for its sustainability.
In his welcome address, the executive director, ARMTI, Dr. Olufemi Oladunni revealed that the development of the Abuja regional training centers (RTC) of the institute was done in phases, the first phase of 30 room hostel complex, the second phase – training /event hall, classrooms, office spaces, video conferencing facility, kitchen and restaurant and third phase a fully furnished 27 room staff quarters and participants’ hostel complex.
He added that the Abuja RTC was very strategic in the pursuit of the institute’s mandate.
In a statement by the ministry’s director of information signed by Ikemefuna Ezeaja, Abubakar noted that given its location in the heart of FCT and direct connection to the rest of the world, a very good number of our partners and collaborators in the sector prefer Abuja RTC for their programmes.
