Oluwafunbi Bello 
IMO, Nigeria – Nigeria strengthens its fight against food insecurity as a European Union-funded climate-smart laboratory is unveiled at the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Umuagwo, positioning the institution as a regional hub for sustainable agricultural innovation.
The multi-million-naira facility, launched during an Agro-ecology Info Day workshop, equips researchers and farmers with advanced tools to address declining yields, climate shocks, and fragile food systems.
“This investment transforms UAES into a centre where science meets practical solutions,” Vice-Chancellor Professor Christopher Eze says. “Food security alone is not enough. Nigeria must pursue food sovereignty.”
The laboratory houses cutting-edge equipment including spectral analysers, soil diagnostic tools, GPS mapping systems, photosynthesis meters, drone surveillance devices, and mobile field-testing kits. According to the university, the technology supports real-time climate adaptation strategies for farmers.
The facility underpins UAES’s newly launched MSc in Agro-ecology, designed to combine research with grassroots impact. Professor Eze explains that graduates will directly transfer scientific knowledge to rural communities.
Beyond research, UAES introduces a digital agricultural marketplace aimed at eliminating middlemen and linking farmers directly to international buyers.
“This platform protects farmers from price manipulation and unstable markets,” Eze adds.
He calls on the Federal Government to back innovation with low-interest agricultural loans, subsidies, and improved security for farming communities.
Project coordinator Dr Ayo Enwerem says the initiative empowers farmers to withstand climate pressures. “We are building resilience through smart agriculture,” he notes.
Experts at the event present research on soil regeneration, women’s role in agriculture, and climate-smart farming—signalling a coordinated response to Nigeria’s food crisis.
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Korede Abdullah 
