The Sardaunan Ilorin Legacy Platform (SILEP) has extended warm congratulations to Prince Sunday Fagbemi, Chairman of the Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC), on his recent appointment as Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi.
The appointment, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is widely seen as well deserved by cross section of stakeholders.
In a statement issued in Ilorin and signed by SILEP’s Assistant Coordinator, Mallam Yunus Atanda, the platform expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for his confidence in Fagbemi’s leadership and competence.
The appointment, according to the group, reiterated the President’s deliberate efforts to harness seasoned political figures for national development, particularly in critical sectors like agriculture.
Mallam Atanda also conveyed the group’s gratitude to the Sardauna of Ilorin, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State for his role in facilitating such strategic recognitions for deserving indigenes.
He described Fagbemi’s elevation as not just a personal milestone but a reflection of Kwara’s increasing relevance in national policymaking.
“This appointment is not only a certification of Prince Fagbemi’s steadfast dedication to public service, but also a clear indicator that the current federal administration is deeply committed to reinvigorating Nigeria’s agricultural institutions for greater impact,” Atanda noted.
Observers believe the choice of Fagbemi, a grassroots politician and experienced administrator, signals a thoughtful blend of political acumen and policy drive at a time when the country faces pressing challenges in food production and research.
SILEP therefore urged the new Governing Council Chairman to bring his wealth of experience to bear in steering the NCRI toward innovation, inclusiveness, and improved output in cereal research, a critical component of Nigeria’s food security strategy.
