The executive secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Sharubutu has been appointed into the board of trustees of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) as the representative of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
A statement issued by the AATF communication officer for West and Central Africa, Alex Abutu said the admission of Sharubutu was based on the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar.
In a letter acknowledging the nomination and confirming his acceptance, the AATF executive director, Dr. Canisius Kanangire said: “[The] AATF is pleased to note the nomination of Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu to the AATF board of trustees and looks forward to a fruitful collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. AATF avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development the assurance of its highest consideration”.
The foundation, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, was founded in 2003 to address Africa’s food security prospects through agricultural technology. The AATF believes that the agricultural sector is a key foundational pillar as Africa consolidates its economic growth and carves out its new position as a major global economic powerhouse and the next growth market in the world. It was formed in response to the need for an effective mechanism that would facilitate and support negotiation for technology access and delivery and the formation of appropriate partnerships to manage the development and deployment of innovative technologies for use by smallholder farmers in SSA.
AATF is active in 23 countries of East, South and West Africa, currently addressing challenges bedevilling key staples in sub-Saharan Africa, including maize, rice, cassava, cowpeas, bananas and potatoes. Also, the AATF has the ultimate goal of transforming livelihoods through innovative agricultural technologies to improve incomes and improve food and nutrition security in regions south of the Sahara.
Sharubutu, a former provost of the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, was appointed the executive secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) in 2019.
He obtained his DVM degree from ABU Zaria in 1986, a master of veterinary science (M.V.Sc) degree from the University of Ibadan in 1992 and a PhD from Usman Dan Fodiyo University Sokoto in 2002.
In 1986/87 he received the President’s NYSC National Honors award for the year as the best Corps member. He started his working career with the Federal Livestock Department from where he moved to Usman Dan Fodiyo University as an assistant lecturer in 1991 and progressed to the rank of a professor in 2005, focusing on infectious and reproductive diseases of livestock.
