The Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Monday performed the ground-breaking and foundation laying of the new Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI), Lafia, Nasarawa State, for the north-central.
Represented by the Special Assistant to President on Foreign and International Affairs, Abdullahi Omaki, Gambari said the institute was expected to look into solving the agricultural and agro-allied technology challenges of Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger and Plateau States as well as the FCT.
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Executive Vice-chairman/Chief Executive, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, said the agency had achieved in the growth and development of vital equipment and machines in the food value chain from cultivation, planting, weeding, harvesting, post-harvesting and food preservation.
He said the institute was mandated to build on this success and serve as a pilot site for the implementation of the agreement between Nigeria and the Czech Republic on agriculture as approved by President Buhari.
“Working with the Technology Agency of Czech Republic, NASENI and AMEDI Lafia will research, develop equipment and train ordinary Nigerians and professionals in the fields of agriculture, food production, harvest and post-harvest, processing technologies, food preservation and packaging”, he said.
Nasarawa State Governor Abdulahi Sule, in Keffi, also yesterday performed the ground-breaking of the permanent site for the NASENI Skill Development Centre, North Zonal Engineering and Science Integrated Laboratory.
The centre is to train and develop middle-level manpower with a focus on employability in selected occupational areas, provide and improve training standards and ensure that the right technical and vocational skills needed by local industries are available.
The NASENI boss said the centre would empower and create jobs for the people of Nasarawa, and help Nigeria “to leapfrog into the fourth industrial revolution.”
