Celebrating Impact: Green Innovation Centre's Legacy in Nigerian Agriculture

On December 7th, 2023, a festive closing event marked the culmination of the Green Innovation Centre (GIC) project in Nigeria, which will conclude its transformative nine-year journey in March 2024. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and commissioned under the special initiative Transformation of Agrifood Systems, the GIC project has been a beacon of change since its inception in 2014.

The core objective of the GIC project was to enhance the income and productivity of 250,000 smallholder farmers while boosting the performance of agricultural enterprises. This ambitious goal was pursued through agricultural innovations within Nigeria's rice, cassava, potato, and maize value chains.

Collaborating with partners in Nigeria, the project successfully trained 400 state agricultural extension service agents as Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) and Farmer Business School (FBS) trainers. This cadre facilitated the training of over 252,000 smallholders. Notably, more than 80% of the supported businesses flourished, creating 1,000 new jobs, with a significant focus on empowering women and youth.

The success of the GIC project extended beyond individual training, influencing institutional practices. Collaborations with green colleges, state agricultural programs, and federal extension departments resulted in the integration of GIC-promoted innovations into their training programmes.

As the Green Innovation Centre bids farewell, its enduring legacy lives on through the institutionalization of knowledge and sustainable agricultural practices. The closing ceremony not only honored the project's success but also set the stage for a resilient and interconnected agricultural ecosystem in Nigeria. The baton of sustainable agricultural development will be carried forward by other German Development Cooperation projects, aligning with the BMZ core theme of "Transformation of Agrifood Systems".