By Mohammed Baba Busu
Dr. Aliyu Umar, the Executive Director of, National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger, says his administration will not compromise research standards.
Umar assured of his continued commitment to promoting research at all times considering its importance to human and social development
He gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Bida, Niger state.
He said that his administration has established a technology showroom in order to boost research and for the overall development of the institute.
“When we came on board, we set up what we call Technology Show Room. It is a room set aside where we display technology, improved a variety of crops and other agricultural products, and implement.
“So that whenever we have visitors in the institute, we will take them round so that they can have first hand information about our products and activities,” he said.
Umar said the institute has enhanced and increased partnership and collaboration with other research centres and universities within and outside the country to boost research.
“We intend to extend the frontiers of research through increased collaboration in order to boost productivity and to take the centre to greater heights,” he said.
The executive director said that the institute also created Quality Control and Assurance Unit to curtail adulteration of seeds.
“All of our products are certified and our inputs are also certified. We don’t tolerate and have adulterated products.
“When we came on board, we also created Integrated Farming System Research to boost farming system,” he added.
The executive director further disclosed that the institute has inaugurated its staff school considering its importance to the children of the institute’s staff and host community.
