Twenty-five final-year students of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja, have secured research grants worth over ₦3.2 million under the Nigeria Food Security Scholars Programme (NFSSP), an initiative of the Nigerian Food Security Project (NFSP) aimed at promoting research-based solutions to the country’s food security challenges.

The beneficiaries received project-based grants totalling ₦3,211,500, along with certificates of participation, to support research in key areas such as food security, climate resilience, agricultural supply chains, post-harvest loss reduction, sustainable food systems and related fields.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Executive Director of the Nigerian Food Security Project, Ajibola Oladiipo, said the programme was established to ensure that research conducted in tertiary institutions contributes directly to solving Nigeria’s food security problems.

“We strongly believe in the value of research and want to ensure that research emerging from academic institutions is grounded in the realities of food security challenges. Our goal is to encourage students to align their projects with practical solutions that can contribute to addressing food security issues. We are committed to funding and scaling solutions that are commercially viable,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi, attended the event alongside the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Oyerinde Abolade Akeem, Professor Abideen Abiodun Alarape, who heads the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management and chairs the SCRIH Scholarship Selection Committee, members of the Supply Chain Research and Innovation Hub (SCRIH), faculty members and other stakeholders.

Professor Abolade Akeem said the initiative complements ongoing efforts to tackle food insecurity through research and innovation.

“The primary goal of this initiative is to address food insecurity in Nigeria through research. We selected 25 outstanding students who will receive support to work on issues including women and youth participation in agriculture and post-harvest loss reduction,” he said.

He described the programme as the first of its kind in the university, adding that the students had been grouped into thematic research clusters to generate practical solutions for challenges facing the agricultural sector.

According to him, the research findings are expected to contribute to improved agricultural productivity, reduced post-harvest losses and stronger food systems across the country.

Under the programme, the students will undertake their research under the supervision of faculty members, with quarterly coaching and review sessions organised by SCRIH.