Agriculture today faces one of its greatest challenges: how to feed a growing population while using less water, reducing inputs, and ensuring that farming remains sustainable in the face of climate change. In Nigeria, the Centre for Climate-Smart Agriculture (CCSA) at Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, is taking bold steps to respond to this challenge. By partnering with the Virtual Irrigation Academy (VIA) in Australia, CCSA is equipping young leaders with the tools, knowledge, and mindset required to transform African agriculture.

This collaboration came to life through CCSA’s twelve-month Fellowship on Climate-Smart and Digital Agriculture, a program funded by the European Union (EU) and managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Program (NJFP). A total of 112 fellows underwent specialised training coordinated by Dr. Rislan Kanya, CEO of CCSA, and Dr. Richard Stirzaker, founder of VIA. Delivered virtually, the program was not only informative but also deeply immersive, blending rigorous science with practical demonstrations.

The fellows were introduced to the philosophy and tools of the Virtual Irrigation Academy. Launched in 2016 as a research project of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), VIA was initially tested in Africa before evolving into a global platform for smarter water use. At its heart are simple but powerful tools that translate complex measurements into easy-to-understand signals, promoting what VIA calls “water literacy”—the ability to see, understand, and manage water as a visible and measurable resource.

Over seven interconnected modules, fellows explored key topics such as soil water retention, nitrate leaching, rooting depth, and the impacts of salinity. From his garden, laboratory, and African farms, Dr. Stirzaker demonstrated how thoughtful irrigation not only conserves water but also improves yields, reduces fertiliser losses, and helps communities avoid conflict over scarce resources. By the end of the training, fellows had gained a strong grounding in irrigation science and, just as importantly, the confidence to translate these lessons into practical action.

Integrating VIA into the CCSA fellowship represents more than a training exercise; it signals a shift toward data-driven, climate-smart agriculture in Nigeria. Fellows were not only taught how to use sensors and detectors but also how to facilitate farmer group discussions, simulate real-life decision-making, and blend scientific knowledge with farmer wisdom. Many have already pledged to introduce VIA practices in their communities, cooperatives, and agribusiness ventures, directly contributing to Nigeria’s broader goals of strengthening food security, conserving natural resources, and building resilience against climate change.

VIA’s values align closely with CCSA’s mission: making water data simple and accessible, connecting farmers and administrators through effective data systems, empowering smallholder farmers with affordable monitoring tools, and ensuring technology remains practical for widespread use. Together, these principles are creating a movement that is both global in reach and deeply rooted in local realities.

As Nigeria prepares for the uncertainties of the future, the CCSA–VIA partnership shows how international collaboration can drive local innovation. What began in an Australian research lab is now shaping the way Nigerian farmers think about and use water. The future of African agriculture will depend not only on advanced technologies but also on building knowledge communities where farmers and scientists learn together. Through its fellowship, CCSA has taken a decisive step in that direction, ensuring that the next generation of agricultural leaders is ready to turn climate-smart principles into everyday practice.