World Bank-backed MeGA Greenhouse, Lab Inaugurated In Bauchi

Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, and the World Bank Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) task team leader, Dr Joy Iganya Agene, have commissioned a mega greenhouse and a plant, soil and water science laboratory at the Bauchi State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology.

The facilities were renovated and upgraded by the Bauchi State Project Management Unit (SPMU) of the ACReSAL Project to strengthen agricultural research, teaching, and learning, and to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices.

At the ceremony yesterday, Governor Mohammed commended the World Bank for supporting the rehabilitation of the facilities, describing the development as a major milestone in the state’s efforts to promote agricultural research and diversify its economy.

He said the laboratory would serve as a reference centre for testing the quality of key environmental components, including water, soil and plants, while the greenhouse would serve as a centre of excellence for agricultural research and practical learning.

The governor described the World Bank’s intervention as timely, saying that Bauchi had actively participated in the process and demonstrated its capacity to utilise the support effectively.

“We participated in this, and it is a kind of pleasant contest between sub-nationals. And we are doing it with knowledge, with achievement,” he said.

Mohammed thanked the ACReSAL team for its confidence in Bauchi State and commended the leadership of the Bauchi SPMU for demonstrating capacity, commitment and accountability in implementing the project.

He recalled that the facility was originally constructed by former governor Dr Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu in 1999 but had subsequently deteriorated.

“We humbly say it is during our tenure that it is coming back through the World Bank, which makes it very auspicious,” he said.

Mohammed stressed the importance of sustainability and revenue generation to the long-term impact of the facilities, pledging to develop a framework to ensure their effective maintenance and continuity.

He also expressed his intention to replicate such facilities across the state’s three senatorial zones to expand access to agricultural research and innovation.

The governor acknowledged the presence of the ACReSAL task team leader, Dr Joy Agene; the National Project Coordinator, Mr Abdulhamid Umar; other World Bank officials; and delegates from other states attending the hybrid Additional Financing (AF) and Pre-Appraisal Mission.

He requested that the ACReSAL team convey Bauchi State’s appreciation to the World Bank and the federal government for their support.

Commissioning the facilities, Dr Agene congratulated the state government and commended its partnership with ACReSAL, describing the interventions as “lofty projects” that would advance research and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

“We appreciate Governor Bala Mohammed for the commitment and counterpart funding that made these interventions possible,” she said.

“These facilities will add to the body of knowledge and strengthen climate-resilient agriculture in Bauchi and beyond.”

The Bauchi ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Dr Ibrahim Kabir, who conducted the visiting team around the greenhouse and laboratory, explained that the facilities were designed to support teaching and learning at the college while also boosting revenue generation for the institution and the state.

He said the interventions would provide students and researchers with modern facilities for practical agricultural research and environmental analysis.

The team also inspected an ongoing gully erosion and flood control project at Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), where Governor Bala Mohammed directed the contractor to accelerate the pace of work to ensure that residents benefit from the intervention as scheduled.

Governor Mohammed said the project was also designed to safeguard farmlands and communities from the devastating effects of erosion and flooding.

Also, the Bauchi ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Dr Ibrahim Kabir, said the erosion and flood control project was targeted at addressing persistent environmental challenges affecting communities along the corridor, restoring degraded land and protecting lives and property.

The Governor was accompanied by members of the World Bank and ACReSAL project teams, as well as senior government officials.

The Rector of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Dr Hashim Sabo Bello, and the Provost of Bauchi State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Dr Ahmad Isah, expressed appreciation for the interventions and pledged their institutions’ continued support for the programme’s success.