A maiden national summit on agricultural colleges and research institutions scheduled for May 11 to 13, 2026, at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State, is driving Nigeria's Senate to court seven global powers for technology transfer, investment and institutional reform in the country's ailing agricultural education sector.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, disclosed this following a series of high level courtesy visits to diplomatic missions in Abuja, where he engaged Malaysia, the European Union, Brazil, China, Germany, India and the United Kingdom. The engagements form part of preparations for the First National Legislative Summit and Expo on Agricultural Colleges and Research Institutions.

Alli stated that "this visit is aimed at informing the governments of China, the European Union, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, and Malaysia about the committee's planned activities and to solicit their support, collaboration, and partnership for the First National Legislative Summit and Expo on Agricultural Colleges and Research Institutions." He stressed that all stakeholders play significant roles in developing sustainable and productive agricultural models capable of addressing global agricultural challenges, improving rural livelihoods and reducing hunger.

At the Malaysian High Commission, Alli engaged Aiyub Bin Omar, highlighting Malaysia's global leadership in palm oil production and noting that Nigeria stands to benefit significantly from its technological expertise in agro industrial value chains. At the European Union Delegation, he commended ongoing interventions in Nigeria's agricultural sector, particularly in oil palm research, and called for deeper collaboration to address climate change, soil degradation and food security challenges.

At the Brazilian Embassy, Alli told his host Carlos Garcete that Nigeria could replicate Brazil's agricultural success through structured collaboration in mechanisation, irrigation, technology transfer and yield enhancement. Discussions with China and Germany focused on agricultural engineering and precision farming, while talks at the Indian High Commission with Abhishek Singh centred on agro technology, research exchange and smallholder farming systems. At the British High Commission, discussions explored strengthening bilateral cooperation in agricultural education, research funding and institutional reforms.

Alli reaffirmed the National Assembly's commitment to enacting legislation that would deepen bilateral partnerships, support innovation and drive comprehensive reforms across Nigeria's agricultural colleges and research institutions, urging diplomatic missions to play active roles at the forthcoming summit.