Dr. Philips Nto has issued a scathing indictment of Nigeria’s neglect of agricultural research, urging federal and state governments to harness the wealth of findings gathering dust in academic libraries to solve the nation’s food crisis. Speaking from his office at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nto said Nigeria’s food insecurity could be significantly addressed if the government stopped sidelining scientists and started funding the implementation of proven innovations.
As Director of the Agribusiness Incubation Centre and former Abia Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Nto said it was heartbreaking to see valuable research rot away while Nigeria continues to struggle with rising food inflation, which according to NBS figures, hit 40.66% in May 2025. He lamented that unlike developed nations such as China and the U.S., where agriculture innovations are celebrated and deployed, Nigerian breakthroughs often end as forgotten academic exercises.
He criticized the prevailing culture where ribbon-cutting on roads receives more applause than transformative research in crop improvement, livestock genetics, or climate-smart farming. “Our researchers deserve national recognition, not just for promotion purposes. Imagine if we invested in our local hybrid varieties, pest control methods, and processing innovations—we’d be feeding ourselves and exporting too,” he said.
Nto described the failure to bridge the gap between research institutions and government policymaking as a national tragedy. He pointed out that numerous improved crop and livestock strains developed by Nigerian researchers remain untouched, with no frameworks to transfer such innovations to farmers. “It’s a disconnect that undermines food sovereignty and job creation,” he added.
He called on agricultural scientists, lecturers, and policy influencers to step up advocacy and pressure the government to fund the application of local research. “We must begin to drive this message into policy rooms. If we don’t force this conversation now, we’ll keep importing food we could have produced with our own knowledge,” he warned.
The delegation from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, led by Dr. Charles Osita, praised Dr. Nto’s work and described him as a beacon of innovation for the region. Osita noted that the Agribusiness Incubation Centre was not only transforming local farming practices but also standing as a national model for turning theory into practice.
Nto concluded by reaffirming the Centre’s mission to collaborate with rural farmers in Abia and beyond, equipping them with tools and techniques to boost yield and profitability. “We are proving every day that research can transform lives if given the chance,” he said.
