…Gives institute six months to demonstrate measurable improvement The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Adamu A...
…Gives institute six months to demonstrate measurable improvement
The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the performance of the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), describing its recent output as far below institutional and national expectations.
Prof. Ahmed made this known on Monday, 13th October 2025, while addressing staff and management of NAPRI during the inauguration of a committee set up to overhaul the institute.
The Vice-Chancellor decried the institute’s declining productivity in research, innovation, and relevance, calling the situation “unacceptable, embarrassing, and a disservice to the nation.”
He therefore issued a six-month ultimatum to NAPRI’s management to demonstrate measurable improvement in performance, productivity, and institutional reputation.
“We have decided to declare a state of emergency on NAPRI because the situation can no longer be ignored or tolerated. This decision is not driven by sentiment but by necessity,” Prof. Ahmed stated.
He noted that within the six-month period, the university expects to see visible progress in research activities, staff engagement, partnerships with government and industry, and income generation.
According to him, NAPRI remains one of the most strategic and historic institutes within the Ahmadu Bello University system and the broader agricultural research landscape in Nigeria. He stressed that the institute’s decline was particularly concerning given its central role in national food security and livestock development.
“With the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the launch of the National Livestock Reform Programme, NAPRI should naturally be at the forefront of research breakthroughs, policy support, and expert training,” he said.
Instead, the Vice-Chancellor lamented, the institute is currently grappling with inertia, poor coordination, underutilised facilities, and dwindling visibility in the national research space.
He warned that unless NAPRI reclaims its leadership role in livestock research and innovation, it risks being completely restructured.
“Time is running out. The nation is watching. The university is watching. And history will not forgive us if we allow this once-proud institute to continue to decline under our leadership,” Prof. Ahmed declared.
The seven-member reform committee, chaired by Prof. J.K.P. Kwaga of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ABU Zaria, has been tasked with identifying the root causes of NAPRI’s poor performance and developing a comprehensive roadmap for recovery and excellence.
The committee is also expected to engage relevant stakeholders, review existing structures and programmes, and recommend urgent reforms in administration, staffing, funding utilisation, and research direction.
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