The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has hosted Nigeria’s first National Symposium on Greenhouse Cultivation, bringing together researchers, industry practitioners and agricultural stakeholders to promote innovative farming systems for improved food security, climate resilience and agribusiness development.
The three-day symposium commenced on October 21th, 2026, at the University’s Red Chamber and was declared open by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde. The event was held under the theme, “Greenhouse Cultivation for Enhanced Food and Nutritional Security in Nigeria.”
In his opening remarks, Kehinde described the symposium as a strategic platform for knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of innovative solutions to Nigeria’s agricultural challenges.
He explained that greenhouse cultivation enables farmers to regulate temperature, humidity, light, water and ventilation, thereby improving productivity, supporting year-round farming and reducing crops’ exposure to adverse weather conditions, pests and diseases.
The Vice-Chancellor identified tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce and strawberries as crops suitable for greenhouse production. He added that technologies such as drip irrigation and hydroponics could further improve water-use efficiency and crop yields.
Although he acknowledged the high establishment and maintenance costs, technical requirements and need for continuous monitoring, Kehinde described greenhouse cultivation as a worthwhile investment amid climate change and increasing food demand.
He disclosed that FUNAAB had incorporated greenhouse use and management into its postgraduate curriculum since 2015, with plans to introduce the course at the undergraduate level through the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).
According to him, the initiative would develop skilled professionals capable of advancing greenhouse technology and addressing Nigeria’s vegetable production challenges. He urged governments, agricultural institutions and young farmers to embrace innovative farming systems.
Delivering the keynote address, titled “Greenhouse Cultivation: The Big Picture for Food Security, Climate Resilience and Agribusiness Growth in Nigeria,” the Team Lead of BIC Farms Concepts Nigeria and Canada, Mr. Adebowale Onafowora, described controlled-environment agriculture as a strategic response to climate change, fluctuating food prices, pest infestations and the limitations of conventional open-field farming.
Onafowora projected that greenhouse cultivation could unlock an estimated ₦600 billion investment opportunity in Nigeria through the development of more than 100,000 commercial growers nationwide.
However, he stressed that realising this potential would require affordable financing, technical expertise, sustained research support and effective market linkages. He identified high commercial lending rates and inadequate risk-sharing mechanisms as major barriers to investment in the sector.
The Ashoka Fellow and controlled-environment agriculture expert emphasised that greenhouse cultivation should be viewed not merely as the construction of protected structures but as an integrated production system capable of strengthening food security, expanding commercial farming and promoting sustainable agribusiness.
He identified naturally ventilated structures, tunnel greenhouses, multi-span facilities and hydroponic systems as technologies that could improve crop quality and support year-round production.
Onafowora also cautioned that greenhouse designs must reflect local climatic conditions, particularly in tropical environments where excessive heat and humidity require appropriate structures and effective environmental management.
He called for a coordinated agricultural ecosystem to support the development of thousands of commercially viable growers, expressing confidence in FUNAAB’s capacity to drive greenhouse cultivation across Africa.
Earlier, the symposium convener, Prof. Isaac Aiyelaagbe, said the programme was designed to encourage stakeholder participation and strengthen public-private sector collaboration.
He explained that the opening day focused on private-sector engagement, while the second day would combine industry participation with academic discussions to promote partnerships and facilitate knowledge exchange. Participants were also scheduled to visit selected greenhouse facilities for practical exposure to different cultivation systems.
Aiyelaagbe appreciated the sponsors and supporting organisations, including CitiVegies, Amazon Farms Organic, MIPAT Modern Integrated Farms and Food Processing Ltd, Keselash AGRICOM, BIC Concepts, CANDEL, RIJK ZWAAN, East West Seeds, Jubaili Agrotec, Organic Foliar Fertilizers, Clean Farms Projects, Kaspharyn Solutions Limited, the Horticultural Academy for Youths (HAY) and the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), among others.
The symposium underscores FUNAAB’s commitment to advancing agricultural research, promoting technology transfer and strengthening collaboration between academia and industry to support sustainable food production and agribusiness development in Nigeria.
