By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Prof. Garba Sharubutu, Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has joined the Board of Trustees of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation as the representative of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
A statement issued by Alex Abutu, AATF Communication Officer for West and Central Africa said the admission of Prof Sharubutu was based on the recommendation of Dr. Mohammad Mahmoud Abubakar, Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
In a letter acknowledging the nomination and confirming his acceptance, Dr. Canisius Kanangire, Executive Director said “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.
AATF headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya was founded in 2003 to address Africa’s food security prospects through agricultural technology, 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 formation of appropriate partnerships to manage the development & deployment of innovative technologies for use by smallholder farmers in SSA
AATF is active in 23 countries of East, Southern and West Africa, currently addressing challenges bedeviling key staples in Sub-Saharan Africa that include maize, rice, cassava, cowpeas, bananas and potatoes.
AATF also has the ultimate goal of transforming livelihoods through innovative agricultural technologies to improve incomes and improve food and nutrition security in Africa South of the Sahara.
Prof. Garba Sharubutu, was appointed the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), in 2019. He was former Provost of the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology.
He obtained his DVM degree from A.B.U. Zaria in 1986, a Masters of Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc) degree from U.I. in 1992 and a Ph.D 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 carer with the Federal Livestock Department from where he moved to Usman Dan Fodiyo University as Assistant Lecturer in 1991 and progressed to the rank of a professor in 2005 focusing on Infectious Diseases of Livestock and Reproductive Diseases.
