Last Updated on September 11, 2026 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Raymond Osemene
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has stepped up its drive to unlock the agricultural and economic potential of cassava, deepening its partnership with the Industrial Cassava Stakeholders Association of Nigeria (INCSAN) to strengthen production, processing, seed development, marketing and youth agribusiness.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, disclosed this in his office today, September 10, 2026, while receiving the leadership of INCSAN, resource persons and participants in a cassava training programme at the University, stressing that stronger stakeholder collaboration was critical to turning Nigeria’s cassava advantage into greater economic value.
According to Prof. Kehinde, Nigeria’s status as one of the world’s leading cassava producers must translate into increased productivity, value addition, industrial utilisation and improved livelihoods for farmers and young Nigerians.
He commended INCSAN, particularly Dr. Lawrence Kehinde, for driving closer collaboration with FUNAAB, noting that the relationship had received further impetus from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both organisations in September 2025.
As a practical demonstration of the partnership, the Vice-Chancellor said FUNAAB had provided land to INCSAN to establish a demonstration and training base. He described the initiative as a strategic platform for moving agricultural knowledge, research and innovation from theory to the farm, assuring the Association of the University’s continued support through its land, expertise and personnel.
Prof. Kehinde stressed that transforming the cassava value chain required a united front among government agencies, research institutions, private organisations, development partners, farmers and other stakeholders. He called for continuous knowledge-sharing, training and mentoring, particularly for young farmers and professionals, to accelerate the adoption of improved practices and technologies.
Describing FUNAAB as a natural hub for agricultural innovation, the Vice-Chancellor said the University’s specialised expertise in Crop Protection, Soil Science, Plant Physiology, Plant Breeding, Horticulture and other disciplines positioned it to provide multidisciplinary solutions to challenges across the cassava value chain.
He linked the University’s cassava development agenda to its broader commitment to entrepreneurship and job creation, noting that FUNAAB graduates about 4,000 students annually. He said the University was strengthening entrepreneurship and career development to equip its graduates not merely to seek jobs, but to create enterprises and tap into emerging opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness.
Prof. Kehinde charged the organisers to make youth empowerment a central component of the training by exposing participants to opportunities in cassava seed production, cultivation, processing, marketing and enterprise development. He acknowledged the contributions of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), PROSSIVA, agricultural extension personnel and other development partners.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed confidence that the expanding FUNAAB-INCSAN partnership would deliver measurable impact in cassava production, innovation, skills development and enterprise creation. He reiterated FUNAAB’s readiness to work with stakeholders to transform Nigeria’s cassava potential into sustainable opportunities for food security, youth empowerment, employment generation and agricultural prosperity.
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