Delivering the 55th Professorial Inaugural Lecture of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Mahmoud Ibrahim Daneji has called for the urgent formulation of a comprehensive national legislative framework on agricultural extension and advisory services. He emphasized that such legislation should clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders, including federal, state and local governments, research institutions, farmer-based organizations, financial institutions, NGOs, and the private sector. According to him, this is crucial for advancing sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.

Professor Daneji made the call on Thursday, 7th August, 2025 while presenting his lecture titled “Diversifying the Nigerian Economy: Analysis of Extension Advisory Services as a Critical Component of Sustainable Agricultural Development” at the University’s Convocation Arena.

In his presentation, Prof. Daneji outlined key challenges hindering effective agricultural extension in Nigeria. These include the absence of a legislated framework, lack of coordination and quality assurance mechanisms, limited private sector involvement, and insufficient numbers of well-trained extension personnel.

He stressed the importance of establishing a robust coordination and quality assurance system to ensure the efficient production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products. He also highlighted the need for a strong research-extension-farmer linkage, which he described as essential for facilitating the exchange of knowledge, promoting adoption of new technologies, and providing valuable feedback for addressing real-world farming challenges.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Professor Aliyu Muazu, mni, described the lecture as timely, especially in light of the increasing security threats facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector. He noted that inaugural lectures serve as platforms for celebrating academic excellence and showcasing the scholarly contributions of university professors to the academic community and the wider public.

The Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Muhammad Auwal Hussain, had earlier introduced the inaugural lecturer to the audience.