As Africa positions itself to harness the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) has expressed readiness to collaborate with Nigeria to strengthen its fertiliser industry and promote sustainable agricultural development across the continent.

 

AfCFTA, if fully implemented, could boost regional income by $450 billion, accelerate wage growth—especially for women—and lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty by 2035, according to the World Bank.

 

Speaking on the proposed partnership, Khalid Baddou, UM6P’s Chief of Staff and Director of Institutional Affairs, emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting Nigerian industry players in exploring Africa’s $16 billion fertiliser market.

 

He noted that the agricultural sector stands to gain immensely from streamlined trade policies and reduced tariffs under AfCFTA, with intra-African trade offering vast potential for economic growth.

 

“In recent years, we’ve seen over $15 billion invested in local fertiliser manufacturing by companies like OCP and Dangote,” Baddou said. “This growth underscores the need for a skilled workforce to ensure efficient and sustainable operations across Africa.”

 

Baddou stated that UM6P is committed to building long-term partnerships not only with Nigeria but with other African nations, aimed at training fertiliser professionals, advancing research and development, and supporting industrial growth. The university’s state-of-the-art facilities—including cutting-edge research labs and pilot plants—support innovations in soil science, plant nutrition, and sustainable agriculture.

 

“Our goal is to foster sustainable development across Africa,” he said. “By sharing our expertise, we aim to empower nations to unlock the full potential of their agricultural sectors under the AfCFTA framework.”

 

UM6P plans to offer specialized training programmes, workshops, and exchange opportunities for Nigerian engineers, technicians, and managers. These will cover critical areas such as plant design, operations, quality control, logistics, and marketing.

 

Dr. Bruno Gerard, Head of UM6P’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, stressed the need to enhance technical expertise within the fertiliser industry to promote greater intra-African collaboration and trade. He said the university is positioning itself as a continental hub for fertiliser education, innovation, and capacity development.

 

Gerard highlighted the college’s ambitious research agenda, which includes biodiversity exploration for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications, climate-resilient crop development, and promoting commercial agriculture to ensure food security across Africa.

 

He also emphasized the critical role of agricultural extension services in connecting research to practical farming outcomes. While digital tools are improving outreach, he noted that trained extension agents remain essential, especially in supporting illiterate farmers and mitigating climate-induced risks such as pest and disease outbreaks.

 

“With targeted training in crop protection and input use, extension agents can help farmers reduce risks and increase productivity,” Gerard added.

 

As Africa prepares for deeper economic integration through AfCFTA, the collaboration between UM6P and Nigeria could play a pivotal role in transforming the continent’s fertiliser industry and securing a sustainable agricultural future.