Abuja:The Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) has successfully registered 419 professional practitioners since its inception in 2017, establishing the country’s first legal register of soil science professionals. This achievement was announced by Prof. Victor Chude, the outgoing Registrar of NISS, during a handover ceremony to the new Acting Registrar, Prof. Bashiru Raji.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Prof. Chude highlighted that this regulatory milestone aims to enhance professional standards and improve the quality of services provided to farmers and other users. The registration framework facilitates the identification of qualified practitioners and promotes accountability in testing, laboratory services, and land management.
Prof. Chude also noted that NISS has distributed over 1,800 testing kits and trained more than 1,500 farmers and extension agents, ensuring that professional expertise extends beyond laboratories. This initiative helps farmers with information critical for decisions on fertilizer application, crop production, and managing problematic conditions.
In addition to these efforts, NISS has launched a mobile application, ‘NISSAgro-Nig Soil SmartDevOp,’ to offer digital agronomic information. The institute has also been involved in drafting the National Agricultural Soil Management Policy and has strengthened laboratory oversight through accreditation and quality manual development.
Prof. Raji, in his acceptance speech, emphasized the importance of soil science to agriculture, food security, and environmental sustainability. He outlined his priorities, including enhancing laboratory quality and education, adopting artificial intelligence, and expanding research and partnerships. Raji also stressed the importance of adopting ISO-based quality management systems in laboratories and preparing practitioners for modern challenges through updated training and curriculum.
The ceremony additionally recognized outstanding members of staff, highlighting the contributions of Dr. Fidelis Oleh and Dr. Ilemona Audu.