The Global Forum for Sustainable Rural Development (GFSRD) co-founder Dr Maria Christina Endarwati, attended the 33rd annual Congress of Rural Sociological Association of Nigeria (RuSAN).
She participated as the keynote speaker on the congress theme “Nigeria Economy and Rural Livelihoods: Opportunities and Resilience”. The Congress was held at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria between 7th and 11th October, 2024.
The Rural Sociological Association of Nigeria is the professional body of rural sociologists and other researchers and practitioners who work and have interests in the discipline of rural sociology in Nigeria.
The association holds annual congresses to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration among members. The congress brought together researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners, aimed to address the most pressing challenges facing rural communities in Nigeria and beyond.
The congress provided a platform to share innovative ideas, strategies, and policies to enhance rural livelihoods while ensuring prosperity for the country.
Dr Endarwati, the keynote speaker, shared insights into GFSRD’s mission to foster sustainable rural development. During the speech, she emphasized the importance of resilience in Nigeria’s Rural Livelihoods, urgency of opportunities in Nigeria’s Rural Economy, factors for achieving goals among others using insights from Indonesia.
During the event, Prof Israel Ogunlade of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin was conferred lifetime award of remarkable achievements, paving the path for countless others by GFSRD team.
Furthermore, while in Nigeria, Dr Endarwati (Head, GFSRD Asia) joined by Mr Mohammed Abubakar (Head, GFSRD Africa) and Dr Olabanji Oluwafemi (Head, GFSRD Nigeria) signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI- A Centre of Excellent Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Government of Nigeria) and Smallgrow Limited.
A pre-Mou signing meeting was also held with University of Ilorin, Kwara State University and team management of GFSRD. Others with interest are the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) and Federal Polytechnic Offa. The aim of the MoU is to bolster research, capacity building, and sustainable rural development projects in Nigeria.
The MoU focuses on collaborative research and capacity development initiatives to empower rural communities with the knowledge and tools required to improve agricultural productivity and enhance food security.
The partnership aims to provide farmers and rural stakeholders with technical assistance and access to modern agricultural practices. The MoU will also promote rural innovation and the implementation of sustainable development projects that align with Nigeria’s national development goals.
Additionally, the partnership will focus on nurturing talent through educational programs, as well as research that directly impacts rural communities in Nigeria.
By working hand-in-hand with Nigerian institutions like Unilorin, ARMTI, NSPRI, Smallgrowr, Offa Poly and KWASU, the GFSRD is well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in rural Nigeria and across the African continent through these collaborations and their outcomes to advocate for a brighter, more sustainable future for rural communities.
