By Idris Umar, Zaria A number of dignitaries at the weekend in Zaria witnessed the safety and quality of TELA maize through a li...
By Idris Umar, Zaria
A number of dignitaries at the weekend in Zaria witnessed the safety and quality of TELA maize through a live tasting of dishes prepared from the hybrid crop.
The event, tagged ‘Eating Is Believing’, was organised to demonstrate the safety, quality and economic value of TELA maize varieties currently available to farmers in Nigeria.
It was organised by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) in collaboration with the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The gathering brought together government officials, academics, seed companies, farmers and farmer associations, research agencies, traditional rulers and members of the media.
The event took place at the TELA Field of the Department of Horticulture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Samaru, Zaria, on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
The well-attended event highlighted how smallholder and commercial farmers could improve yields, reduce losses caused by pests and drought, and maximise profitability through the adoption of improved seed technology.
The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, was the chairman of the occasion.
Prof. Ahmed was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Advancement, Research and Innovation, Prof. Sanusi Aliyu Rafindadi.
The Vice-Chancellor said one of the cardinal objectives of establishing ABU was to support farmers with technologies that would improve farming practices and increase yields.
He described as false and unfounded claims that TELA maize varieties were harmful to human and animal health.
Ahmed also said the university was proud of IAR for the research it was conducting and urged the researchers, particularly the Principal Investigator of the TELA Hybrid Maize Research Programme, Prof. Rabi’u Adamu, to sustain the effort.
The TELA Maize Programme Manager/National Coordinator of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Mr. Yarama Ndirpaya, delivered the opening remarks at the event.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to expand farmers’ access to safe, climate-resilient and high-yielding seed technology.
Ndirpaya, a plant scientist and ABU alumnus, also spoke on AATF’s efforts to strengthen public confidence in science-based agricultural innovation across Nigeria.
According to him, AATF operates in 24 African countries and has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
He stressed the need for African farmers to embrace TELA maize varieties, given their safety and economic value.
Ndirpaya also shared the success story of South Africa, where he said 25 metric tonnes of TELA maize were being harvested per hectare.
The TELA Maize Programme Manager said the ‘Eating Is Believing’ showcase was aimed at explaining the farming technology as part of efforts to reduce hunger on the continent.
The Executive Director of the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Prof. Ado Yusuf, spoke on the TELA maize research programme, stressing that Nigeria needed the technology to boost maize production.
Prof. Yusuf, who was represented by the Principal Investigator of the TELA Hybrid Maize Research Programme, Prof. Rabi’u Adamu, disclosed that IAR had, in the last six years, released four varieties of high-yielding maize seeds.
He emphasised that the maize varieties were safe for both human and animal consumption, having undergone strict testing by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) of Nigeria since 2019.
Yusuf encouraged Nigerian farmers to adopt the TELA maize varieties produced by IAR, citing their safety, quality and economic value.
He said IAR was at the forefront of developing technologies to improve farming in Nigeria, adding that Nigerian farmers must transition from traditional to modern farming methods to ensure food security.
The Executive Director of the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Prof. Yusuf A. Sani; his counterpart from the Division of Agricultural Colleges, Prof. Bashir Ahmed Babaji; and the Dean of Agriculture, Prof. Salisu Bakura, presented goodwill messages in support of efforts to expand farmers’ access to improved agricultural technologies.
Dr. Rose Gidado of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and Alhaji Nuhu Aminu of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) also spoke at the occasion.
Some large-scale farmers from neighbouring communities also shared their success stories following their adoption of the new technologies.
The event ended with a live tasting of dishes prepared from TELA maize, followed by a guided tour of the TELA maize farms by the dignitaries.
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