Technical Assistant to the Agricultural Production and Productivity Officer

The Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is a vital government organ dedicated to enhancing food productivity, driving industrialisation, and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across Ogun State, Nigeria

Ogun State Program Implementation Unit of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program invites applications from eligible candidates to fill the position below:

• Job Title: Technical Assistant to the Agricultural Production and Productivity Officer
• Location: Idi-Aba Abeokuta, Ogun
• Estimated Duration of the Assignment: twelve (12) months with the possibility of extension based on program needs, satisfactory performance and conduct

Background

• The Ogun State Government through the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has secured a facility from the African Development Bank (AfDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to implement a five-year AfDB/IFAD/ISDB-Assisted Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program in partnership with Private Investors.
• The seven (7) participating states of Imo, Kaduna, Cross River, Kwara, Oyo and Ogun as well as the Federal Capital Teritory (FCT) in the first phase of program implementation.
• The implementation of a government-enabled/private sector driven SAPZS is a major investment program of the Federal Government of Nigeria, driven by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) in collaboration with relevant Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to develop agro-processing clusters in areas of high agricultural production across the country.
• It is a strategic move to rapidly develop modern Agro-processing capacity to serve the vast and growing local markets, create sustainable market for farmers and reduce post-harvest losses of local agricultural produce and thereby create wealth for farmers, promote import substitution and create sustainable agriculture-related jobs.
• This clustering approach is to help address investment challenges in the development of agro- processing enclaves across Nigeria, including poor access to quality infrastructure, inadequate feedstock supplies and other challenges confronting agro-processing environment SAPZS, therefore, will be developed with requisite infrastructure for agro processing environment which will help reduce cost absorptions and engender competitiveness in agro-industrial production that is critical to further unlocking the potentials of Nigeria's agriculture to create ready markets and wealth for farming communities and reduce rural poverty.
• The SAPZ is made up of two building blocks which include the Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATCs), which are community-based rural institution within the host community, equipped with desirable infrastructure to create modern agro-processing environment where secondary value addition will take place.
• The Agro-Industrial Processing Hub (AIH) will draw its processing feedstock from the ATCs where activities of the production clusters and Aggregation Centres are being coordinated.

Scope of Service and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Agricultural Productivity Officer, the Technical Assistant will:

• Assist in the coordination and implementation of agricultural productivity-related interventions across SAPZ sites.
• Support the preparation and review of technical documents, concept notes, reports, and training materials.
• Assist in data collection, collation, and entry related to GAPS (Good Agronomic Practices), input distribution, and productivity monitoring.
• Support in the maintenance of a comprehensive database of beneficiaries, demonstration plots, and performance indicators.
• Support monitoring and evaluation activities by ensuring timely reporting of field activities.
• Assist in liaison with farmer organizations, extension agents, service providers, and private sector partners.
• Provide advisory support to the Agricultural Productivity Officer on field-level implementation issues, emerging risks, productivity constraints, and practical measures to improve the delivery of agricultural productivity interventions.
• Support strategic planning, prioritisation, and review of agricultural productivity activities by providing evidence-based inputs, field intelligence, lessons learned, and recommendations to inform decision-making by the APO and programme management.
• Contribute to strategic engagement with farmer organisations, extension systems, private sector actors, service providers, and relevant state institutions to strengthen coordination, alignment, and sustainability of productivity-related interventions.
• Support any additional tasks assigned by the APO or the National Program Coordinator to ensure the effective execution of productivity activities.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of a master's degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Agricultural Extension, Rural Development, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in agricultural programmes, preferably in donor-funded
• Experience working with smallholder farmers, farmer cooperatives, or rural agribusiness initiatives is an advantage.
• Experience working with projects financed by international financial institutions such as IFAD, the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank.
• Strong coordination, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications and familiarity with basic data tools (Excel, Kobo, etc.).

Application Closing Date

13th October, 2026 at 12:00 noon local time.