TETFUND, FARA To Establish Agricultural Fellowship Platform

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFUND) says it is in partnership with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) to establish and inaugurate the Agricultural Research and Innovation Fellowship For Africa (ARIFA) platform in Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of TETFUND Sonny Echono, revealed this at the inauguration of ARIFA in Abuja stating that TETFUND’S intervention in ARIFA would impact on faculties and departments across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions

He opined that the collaboration would result in the delivery of science-led solutions for improved livelihoods while sustaining and advancing academic excellence.

He noted that TETFUND had supported over 120 scholars nominated by beneficiary institutions, stressing that most of the Phase one nominees are rounding off their programmes in 2023.

The Executive Secretary further said that the Fund recognizes ARIFA model as an innovative strategy for revitalising pedagogy that would strengthen the institutional capacities of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

He reiterated the Agency’s commitment to support another 500 sets of fellows, adding that the pre-admission process of the second phase of the programme had since commenced.

Echono urged the researchers to be part of the innovation ecosystem that would strengthen Nigeria’s educational and agrifood systems.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of FARA, Dr Yemi Akinbamijo who affirmed that the inauguration of the programme was the beginning of realising ARIFA training in Brazil, however emphasized that ARIFA fellow returnee from Brazil would be planted back in their institutions where they took off.