Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has emerged as a key beneficiary of the 2025 European Union Erasmus+ grant for the establishment of a Master of Science degree programme in Smart Farming and Internet of Things (IoT) in Agriculture, codenamed MESITA (ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE-STRAND-2).
The university is part of a consortium comprising four Nigerian universities, three European universities, and a cloud-based digital ecosystem organisation. The project, which officially commenced in November 2025 in Abuja, is designed to transform agricultural practices through the integration of advanced technologies into higher education and professional training.
MESITA aims to equip graduates with cutting-edge competencies in smart agriculture while promoting sustainable and climate-friendly farming practices. The programme is also structured to strengthen university–industry collaboration, enhance entrepreneurship, and improve employability within the rapidly evolving agricultural technology sector in Nigeria.
The curriculum is built around emerging areas such as embedded systems, artificial intelligence applications, and precision agriculture. It is expected to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer from European partner institutions to Nigeria, thereby supporting digital transformation and sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.
Beyond academic training, the initiative is projected to have far-reaching societal impact by improving agricultural productivity and efficiency, strengthening food security, creating employment opportunities, and advancing environmental sustainability. It also addresses gaps in precision agriculture education and aligns with global priorities, including climate change mitigation, food security, and gender inclusion in agribusiness.
Participating institutions in the MESITA project include:
University of Siegen (USI), Siegen, Germany (International Coordinator)
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (UPWr), Poland
University of Food Technology (UFT), Bulgaria
University of Port Harcourt (UPH), Nigeria
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOU), Nigeria
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Nigeria
AlumUnite Limited, Lekki, Nigeria
The OAU project team is led by Prof. S. O. Ajadi, alongside Prof. A. S. Bamire, Prof. G. A. Aderounmu, Prof. S. A. Bello, Prof. M. L. Sanni, Dr. S. A. Muda, and Dr. R. A. Adetona.
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