Digital Solutions, also known as DIGISOL Project funded by the European Union towards enhancing rural agricultural practices through digitalization, has advocated public-private collaboration in achieving sustainable digital innovation hub in the country.
DIGISOL Project, during a two-day workshop it organised for stakeholders at the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Umuagwo, Imo State, also launched DIGISOL Mobile App to enable farmers achieve efficient, sustainable and smart agricultural practices.
In his address, the DIGISOL project manager and vice-chancellor of UAES, Prof. Christopher Eze, said that the workshop was important to harness ideas among stakeholders so as to improve practices for farmers and small and medium scale enterprises, pointing to the theme: “Strengthening Knowledge Transfer Between Universities, Tech Hubs and SMEs.”
Eze explained that: “DIGISOL Project is both research and assistance to farmers who practice in remote areas of Nigeria, particularly the three sampled states of Imo, Ogun and Kwara,” expressing optimism for expansion to other states.
He added that digital solutions which the project champions for farmers was key in ensuring that the target beneficiaries have access to improved knowledge, funding, and networking for seamless buying of inputs as well as marketing of their products.
Also speaking, the DIGISOL Project Team Lead, Mr. Chris Addy-Nayo, asserted that lack of collaborations was responsible for limited results in various aspects of the country.
He opined that bringing together academic communities with their capacities in research, private sector players and the government which makes policies to dialogue and find common ground was good to enhance farming, research and innovations that bring solutions to the problems of the society.
Similarly, the DIGISOL Project national co-ordinator, Prof. Chinasaokwu Onyemauwa, underscored the importance of the workshop, adding that the outcome would be used to improve SMEs and agricultural practices in the country.
The representatives from partner Institutions, Dr. Ajala Tajudeen(Al-Hikmah University, Kwara State, and Dr. Folasade Oke(Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State), emphasised the need for Nigeria to adapt Western practices by digitalizing SMEs and agricultural operations to curb food insecurity.
Meanwhile, the DIGISOL Project ICT director, Dr. Leonard Orji, while introducing the mobile application to the participants, disclosed that the idea was conceived to leverage opportunities provided by digital innovations. He noted that the integrated platform with various components would benefit farmers and cooperatives under the project.
An ICT consultant to the project, Mr. Destiny Brotobo, demonstrated the usage of the app, offering a glimpse into how users would benefit through access to information on climate conditions, seasonal tips, funding, networking and marketing of products among others.
Lectures delivered during the workshop centred on building inclusive ecosystems, Nigeria’s adaptation of European innovative models, creation of real impact through knowledge transfer, acceleration of SMEs through building of innovation hubs, promotion of policy alignment among stakeholders and strengthening of indigenous creativity.
Some of the speakers include, secretary general, SERN Startup Europe Regions Network, European Commission, Chiara Frencia, the co-ordinator of FI4INN, Claudia Baracchini, the DIGISOL Project Telecon Expert, Engr. Emmanuel Amadi and the general manager, Imo Digital City, Barr. Stella Ezendukaamong others. The participants described the workshop as enriching and productive.
