By Adejare Ibrahim and Ajayi Olamide
In a bid to strengthen agricultural productivity and promote sustainable raw materials development for Nigeria’s industrial growth, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Oyo State Coordinating Office, paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) in Ibadan on February 3, 2026.
The meeting, held at NSPRI’s office on Stone Road, Onireke, Ibadan, marked a significant step toward fostering inter-agency collaboration aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
The RMRDC delegation was led by Deputy Director and State Coordinator, Mr. O.A. Adeogun, and was received by Oyo State Zonal Coordinator of NSPRI, Dr. (Mrs.) Aremu Mariam.
Speaking during the visit, Mr. Adeogun emphasized the Council’s commitment to enhancing farmers’ productivity through strategic partnerships. He noted that the collaboration seeks to ensure the continuous availability of quality raw materials for industries while improving farmers’ incomes through better post-harvest management practices.
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In her response, Dr. Aremu highlighted NSPRI’s mandate, which includes conducting research into storage challenges affecting agricultural commodities, maintaining quality standards for stored products, and training extension workers on modern storage technologies. She explained that NSPRI operates under the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, with its headquarters in Ilorin and zonal offices in Ibadan, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.
Dr. Aremu welcomed the proposed partnership, affirming the Institute’s readiness to collaborate with RMRDC on raw materials development initiatives. She expressed confidence that the combined expertise of both agencies would deliver comprehensive solutions to production and preservation challenges confronting Nigerian farmers.
During extensive deliberations, the two institutions identified key areas of collaboration, including joint research on storage technologies for cassava, yam, cocoa, and grains; development of affordable, locally fabricated storage equipment for smallholder farmers; capacity-building programmes on post-harvest handling; and policy advocacy to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural storage infrastructure.
Mr. Adeogun commended NSPRI’s technical expertise, describing the partnership as a strategic alignment of institutional strengths capable of addressing the estimated 30–40 per cent post-harvest losses recorded in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The visit concluded with a mutual commitment to formalize the partnership through a memorandum of understanding outlining specific collaboration areas, joint project frameworks, and resource-sharing arrangements. Dr. Aremu assured the RMRDC delegation of NSPRI’s readiness to commence joint activities promptly, recommending an initial focus on cassava and yam storage technologies, given their economic importance in Southwest Nigeria.
Other members of the RMRDC delegation included Senior Scientific Officer, Mr. K.A. Adeyemi; Senior Administrative Officer, Mrs. W.A. Adewole; and Scientific Officer II, Mrs. F.O. Akinade.
