The University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Umuagwo, Imo State, organised a one-day sensitisation workshop dedicated to the new MSc Programme in Agroecology and Food Systems, developed within the framework of the AGRECOFARM – AGRoECOlogical FARMing project.
During the event, the Vice-Chancellor of UAES, Prof. Christopher Eze, emphasised that agroecology can play a key role in improving food production and strengthening national food security. He highlighted the importance of adopting smart agriculture, modern farming techniques, and sustainable agroecological practices to revitalise Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The workshop addressed several major challenges affecting agriculture in Nigeria and West Africa, including poor soil fertility, nutrient deficiencies, weed pressure, inefficient irrigation systems, salinisation, pest and disease outbreaks, land degradation, climate change, biodiversity loss, population growth, poverty, and food insecurity. According to the speakers, agroecological approaches can help restore soil health, improve nutrient cycling, enhance water retention, increase organic matter, and support more resilient farming systems.
The event also presented the objectives of the MSc Agroecology and Food Systems Programme, which aims to equip students, agricultural stakeholders, rural farmers, and farmer cooperatives with the skills and competences needed to implement agroecological practices and advanced agricultural technologies. The programme was developed under the AGRECOFARM initiative, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, to build capacity in higher education institutions across Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.
Speakers underlined that agroecology is not only an academic pathway but also a practical strategy for sustainable development. By promoting applied research, soil restoration, sustainable agronomic practices, environmental protection, and self-employment opportunities for graduates, the programme contributes to the transformation of current farming systems and supports food security in West Africa.
The International Coordinator of the programme, Prof. Pietro Picuno, joined the workshop virtually and expressed confidence in the initiative’s potential to support agricultural development and improve farming techniques in Nigeria and the wider West African region.
Through this initiative, UAES and the AGRECOFARM consortium reaffirm their commitment to strengthening agroecology education, promoting sustainable food systems, and preparing a new generation of professionals capable of addressing the environmental, social, and economic challenges facing African agriculture.