By Adeyinka Adeniran
The newly appointed Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Bello Ayuba, has assured the management staff of the institute of his readiness to prevail on the National Assembly and relevant ministries, to increase budgetary provisions to enhance research at the institute.
He made the promise during a two- day working visit to the institute in Ibadan on Friday
The NIHORT Governing Board Chair, also promised to do everything within his ability to improve the welfare of members of staff and management of the institute for better service delivery.
Hon. Ayuba who was accompanied by some prominent members of the Borno state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the appointment as the Chairman, Governing Board of the institute, promising to justify the confidence reposed in him by the President by adding value to the institute.
He said, “My being here is not just to come and go, we have a very serious task, we have to make sure we work hard to make this institute a more greater institute.
“With the calibre of researchers and staff at the institute, it is a clear manifestation that they are equal to the task.
“In research institute of this nature, you have to boost the morale of the management staff. The welfare of the staff matters a lot. You cannot engage people in research when they are not comfortable. Therefore, our own part, we will do our best to make sure that the welfare of the staff of the institute is considered.
“Research requires a lot of funding, you cannot engage in research without fund. We have to travel far and wide, we cannot restrict ourselves to our country in the name of research, we have to explore other areas, we have to ensure we make contacts, and you can not do that without fund.
“The responsibility of this is on us and we have to make sure that the institute is funded in the budgetary provisions. We have to make sure that the budgetary provision should be there, if the budget is not there, the institute will be handicapped, we’ ll do our best to make sure the fund is provided for research.”
He commended the synergy and sense of responsibility among the management staff.
He identified adequate funding, high sense of duty and improvement in welfare of management staff, as three areas which are critical in making an institution vibrant and meaningful in any society.
He expressed satisfaction with the management saying, what is important for him is to take the institute to enviable heights.
He said the institute is capable and equal to the task adding that with adequate attention to the institute, the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration will be achieved especially in the area of food security
The Research institute which specializes in genetic improvement, production of fruits and vegetables as well as ornamental plants comprises researchers and management staff
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Executive Director, NIHORT, Ibadan, Professor Mohammed Atanda, revealed plans of the institute to introduce new varieties of horticultural crops into the Nigeria market such as additional tomato varieties, garden egg, plantain/banana, onion, Fruit bearing pawpaw and melon.
Atanda highlighted the critical needs of the Institute to include; state-of-the-art research infrastructure and equipment, additional office buildings for staff, increased funding for breeding and developing new varieties of horticultural crops, as well as for the multiplication of breeder and foundation seeds of mandate crops.
Others are, staff development through training and retraining programs, more research vehicles to support dissemination and outreach activities , upgrading the current pilot fruit juice processing plant to advance research and development of value-added products
“With these, it will significantly enhance our efficiency and contribution to the development of horticultural value chain” he said.
