The University of Ibadan (UI), through its Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law (CPEEL) and in partnership with the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development (AERD), has launched two major agricultural technologies—a smart irrigation system and a smart solar-powered crop dryer—as part of efforts to address food insecurity and energy poverty in rural Nigeria.
The unveiling event, themed “Concept to Community: Scalable Energy Solutions for Rural and Off-Grid Sustainable Development,” showcased several innovations developed to enhance energy access in farming communities. These include IoT-enabled solar irrigation and drying systems, smart meters, biogasifiers, and microgrids integrated with renewables.
Prof. Olugbenga Falode, Director of CPEEL, emphasized that energy remains a “golden thread” that ties together economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability. He stressed that lack of energy access hinders agricultural productivity, healthcare, and education, especially in rural Nigeria, where over 80% of residents remain off-grid.
He called for greater investment in mini-grids to power agro-processing and cold storage, and in clean cookstoves to reduce household air pollution, noting that the centre’s solutions aim to go beyond academic theory to impact real farms and rural livelihoods.
Prof. Stella O. Odebode, Head of AERD, underlined the significance of agricultural extension services in ensuring technology reaches and is adopted by farmers. Her department presented an energy audit for the Ajebandele community to guide sustainable deployment strategies.
Engr. Adebayo Ige, MD/CEO of IESL, reiterated his company’s support through a ₦10 million annual grant to the centre. He emphasized scaling community-led solutions like solar mini-grids by deepening partnerships between industry, academia, and rural stakeholders.
Experts including Prof. Akin Iwayemi, Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, and Prof. O.E. Olubusoye, all advocated for robust collaboration between the academic and public-private sectors to tackle Nigeria’s energy and food challenges. They maintained that empowering local talent, enhancing energy research, and ensuring community ownership are central to long-term food and energy security.
The initiative was roundly praised by stakeholders, who called for continuity, stronger community engagement, and greater policy support to embed these innovations into Nigeria’s agricultural landscape. Source- Tribune Online
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The unveiling of UI’s smart irrigation and drying systems has far-reaching implications for agribusinesses, farmers’ cooperatives, development practitioners, and policymakers across Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa:
Precision Agriculture through Energy Access
Smart irrigation systems integrated with solar and IoT technologies allow farmers to monitor and automate watering based on soil moisture and crop requirements, improving water-use efficiency and yields—particularly critical for smallholders battling climate variability.
These systems reduce reliance on fuel-powered pumps, slashing operational costs and carbon emissions.
Post-Harvest Loss Reduction
The smart solar crop dryer addresses one of Nigeria’s biggest agri-food bottlenecks: high post-harvest losses, especially in perishable produce like fruits, grains, and vegetables.
By leveraging solar drying, farmers can extend shelf life, retain quality, and sell at higher market prices—thereby improving income and food availability.
Decentralized Energy for Agro-Processing
Mini-grids and hybrid renewable systems proposed by the project can power cold storage, milling, rice threshing, and cassava processing units in off-grid communities—activities that are vital to scaling up local agro-processing and agribusiness investments.
These are critical for Nigeria’s transition from raw commodity exportation to value-added agricultural production.
Extension and Adoption Framework
The involvement of the Department of Agricultural Extension is crucial. It ensures these innovations don’t just sit in demonstration plots but reach rural communities through participatory models, training, and feedback loops.
This alignment with behavioral change and community dynamics increases adoption and sustainability.
Private Sector and Philanthropic Collaboration
The ₦10 million annual grant from IESL is a compelling model for how private sector CSR or ESG funds can be channeled into applied agricultural R&D, creating scalable impacts.
Agro-processing firms and agritech startups can consider similar funding partnerships to catalyze inclusive innovation.
Strategic Recommendations for Stakeholders
State Ministries of Agriculture and Energy: Should partner with institutions like UI to scale pilot projects into regional energy-agriculture programs, especially in high-output zones like Oyo, Benue, and Kaduna.
Farmer-Based Organizations (FBOs): Can mobilize around these technologies to co-invest in shared irrigation and drying infrastructure.
Development Agencies and NGOs: Should integrate energy access and post-harvest solutions into food security and climate resilience programming.
Agri-Finance Institutions: Must recognize off-grid energy tech as bankable agribusiness infrastructure and design tailored financial products for acquisition.
Conclusion
This initiative by the University of Ibadan is not just a technical milestone—it is a strategic model for agri-energy integration that can help reposition Nigeria’s agriculture from subsistence to sustainability. The fusion of energy innovation, community engagement, and institutional collaboration is precisely what is needed to transform Africa’s food systems in the face of climate, energy, and economic challenges.
