Last Updated on August 7, 2026 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Nigeria, is set to welcome leading Academics, policymakers, development partners, researchers, and agroecology practitioners from Africa and Europe for the Final Conference of the AGRECOFARM Project, a flagship international initiative dedicated to advancing agroecology education and promoting sustainable agricultural transformation across Africa.
According to the Ag. Head, Directorate of Public Relations, Mr. Olasunkanmi Olajide, the conference, scheduled to hold from September 28 to 29, 2026, at the Red Chamber of the Senate Building, FUNAAB, is themed “Advancing Agroecology Education: Future Opportunities for Africa.” He noted that the 2-Day conference, co-funded by the European Union, would serve as a strategic platform for strengthening Africa-Europe partnerships, promoting knowledge exchange, and accelerating innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.
Mr Olajide stated that the conference would bring together representatives of leading universities, research institutions, development organisations, and government agencies, including the Central University of Sierra Leone and other AGRECOFARM partner institutions across Africa and Europe, to deliberate on strategies for mainstreaming agroecology into higher education, research, policy development, and agricultural practice.
He further disclosed that the Opening Ceremony would feature a keynote address by a distinguished agroecology expert, His Excellency, Dr. Hussein Gadain (FAO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS), who would examine the growing relevance of agroecological approaches in addressing food insecurity, climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable rural development across the African continent.
According to him, technical sessions would focus on three broad thematic areas which are Production and Ecological Practices; People, Nutrition and Social Systems; and Enabling Environment. He explained that the discussions are expected to generate practical, evidence-based recommendations for integrating agroecological principles into educational curricula, public policy, research, and farming systems across Africa.
Mr. Olajide also revealed that the second day of the conference would feature a high-level roundtable on the future of agroecology in Africa, bringing together renowned scholars and sector leaders to examine pathways for scaling agroecological innovations, strengthening institutional collaboration, and enhancing regional capacity for sustainable agricultural development.
He added that the programme would include Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) activities jointly organised by the two Nigerian partner universities, showcasing innovative models for equipping the next generation of agricultural professionals with practical competencies in agroecology and climate-smart agriculture.
Beyond the technical sessions, Mr. Olajide emphasised that the conference would provide an important platform for networking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among researchers, educators, students, policymakers, and development partners committed to advancing sustainable agriculture and building resilient food systems across Africa.
He stressed that hosting the AGRECOFARM Final Conference would further reinforce FUNAAB’s growing reputation as one of Africa’s foremost universities of agriculture and a leading centre for cutting-edge research, international collaboration, and capacity development. According to him, the event reflects the University’s steady commitment to driving innovation, strengthening global partnerships, and delivering practical solutions to some of the world’s most pressing agricultural and environmental challenges.
