By Chinyere Anyanwu
Nigeria’s pursuit of food security is set to receive a major boost following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between a Nigerian agro firm, Silagreen International Agro Development Limited, and the University of Zebu Breeders Association (ABCZ), Brazil.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Michael Akinruli, the partnership is aimed at boosting food security in the country through enhanced cattle breeding and dairy production.
He said the cooperation was facilitated by the company’s Brazilian partner, ZEBUEMBRYO Company, adding that the MoU is a strategic cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil, particularly regarding cultural and scientific education transfer.
Akinruli stated that the arrangement would improve the skills of Nigerian graduates and undergraduates and involve specialisation courses. The beneficiaries will undergo structured courses that will sharpen their skills in cattle production and introduce them to new technologies and modern practices.
He stated that the technology transfer would be helpful to the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development.
The Silagreen International Agro Development Limited boss said, “we have done it in such a way that we’ve tailor-made the programme’s courses. The courses will be short ones, in categories of one-month, three-month, and six-month, offered by this university in Brazil. It is going to be provided in a hybrid format. Part of it will be online from Nigeria, and the students are now meant to come to Brazil to finalise the training. The university we are talking about is the University of Cattle in Brazil.
“In Brazil, there’s the University of Cattle where everything they do there, all the courses they offer, all the programmes, are all around cattle nutrition, cattle genetics improvement and livestock generally.”
He said the partnership will facilitate the exposure of Nigerian youths, farmers and even academics to hands-on practical training.
He added that it is a university on a farm, one of the topmost in Brazil and accredited by all the necessary agencies.
He said, “it’s a big one for Nigeria because it will facilitate technology transfer, capacity building and specialisation, as well as accelerate beef and dairy production in Nigeria.
“Silagreen Agro is creating bridges and making things happen for our generation. We started with nutrition, and now we are talking about genetics. You may also wish to know that our company is the first ever to transfer embryos into our cattle in Nigeria.”