まなぶひと #54-English
Abubakar Abdulkadri Jelani
Bridging Nigeria and Japan through agricultural knowledge and techniques.
2025.01.30
まなぶひと #54-English
Abubakar Abdulkadri Jelani
2025.01.30
He is an international student from Nigeria, haven obtaineda bachelor's degree in agricultural science in his home country and gained over a decade of work experience, he came to Japan as a research student in the Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences at Yamagata University. After passing the entrance exam, he has been studying as a graduate student since April 2023. Currently, he is in his 2nd year of his master's program. Since his time as a research student, he has focused in broadening his understanding of rice varieties, cultivation methods, and distribution at Nasukawa Hisashi’s Laboratory. He aims to contribute to improving food security in his home country. He is also enjoying life in Tsuruoka City, where the campus is located, and making the most of his time here.
Mr. Jelani majored in agricultural science at the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, where he researched soil nutrients, particularly the effects of fertilizers on okra. Okra, which originated formeastern Africa, is a beloved food in Nigeria. "A popular dish is okra soup. Just as Japanese people enjoy miso soup, Nigerians relish okra soup," he explains.
He obtained his bachelor's degree in agricultural science in 2010. After graduation, he worked for an information service provider company in Nigeria, serving in a management position. He then became an officer at the Standards Organization of Nigeria, the countries apex standardization body, where he handled responsiblietes such as formulation of national food and agricultural standards, quality, environmental and food safety related audits , and inspection of various organisations including food manufacturing plants. He also served as technical secretary at the National Mirror Committee on Cocoa. Furthermore, he was a lead auditor and trainer in quality, food safety, environment, and halal food management systems. He held various positions, including technical expert IN Food Technical Committee on sustainable and traceable cocoa for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO, Geneva) and the African Organization for Standardization (ARSO).
With his university research and work experience, he aspired to improve the food environment in his home country and came to Japan in September 2022. As a long-term trainee and Scholar under JICA, he joined Nasukawa Hisashi’s Laboratory in the Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences at Yamagata university as a research student in October of the same year.
“Yamagata University laboratories are well-equipped, the campus is also comfortable despite the changes in temperature in the area. Compared to other universities I have visited in Japan, life at Yamagata University is comfortable," he said, smiling.
The specialty of the Nasukawa Laboratory is paddy rice. Asides from rice, there are various staple food in his home country such as yam, potatoes, cassava, plantains, and beans He has learnt a lot at the university, however, and he said, "There’s something new to learn every day. Yamagata Prefecture has a harsh natural environment with temperature changes throughout the year and much snow in winter. Even so, I became interested in the efficient and stable cultivation of rice and various other crops," he said, eager to continue his research.
After passing the written and oral entrance examinations, he will continued his studies in the Nasukawa Laboratory as a graduate student in the university's master's program from April 2023.
He was so excited to see his first snow fall on the grounds of the university, that he took a picture of it. “Nigeria has only a wet and a dry season, so it is neither so cold nor so hot compared to Yamagata Prefecture," he told us.
Mr. Jelani, a 2nd year master's student, is pursuing a master's degree in agriculture. There are currently eight graduate and undergraduate students in the lab.after graduation of a Senegalese student in March 2024, Mr. Jelani is the only international student at present, but a Ghanaian research student will soon join. Conversations are conducted in English and Japanese. “We all try to learn new phrases in languages other than our mother tongue, such as French and Arabic," he says, "so we can learn without feeling any language barriers.
He and his lab mates grow rice on the University's plots and pots. They experienced everything from soil preparation, seedling preparation, rice planting, and harvesting, and were impressed by Japanese agricultural technology, saying, "The cultivation methods and innovations that take into account the natural environment can be applied in my home country as well.”
He checks the growth of rice with his lab mates in a field at the University. He tried growing yam,potatoes and corn, but "didn't get much success," he says, and is now concentrating on rice research.
Experiencing rice planting. “Japan makes good use of water to grow good quality rice. Nigeria has two or three harvest opportunities a year, but we are not able to produce consistently" he said, revealing the situation in his home country.
In addition to Japanese varieties such as Haenuki and Sasanishiki, African varieties and interspecific hybridized varieties like NERICA are also grown in the Laboratory (in growing chambers, ).
“We hope to verify how African rice can be grown with Japanese technology, and to cultivate high-quality rice in Nigeria. Nigerians do not eat as much rice as Japan, but a debatable Nigerian/African rice dish called Jollof rice is popular. It is similar to pilaf and is delicious."
Nigeria experiences crop damage due to floods and flash floods.” I want to contribute to strengthening food security in my country, not only through the cultivation of crops, but also the logistics, post-harvest services and procurement of raw materials and their delivery to consumers," he said.
Mr. Jelani measuring components in the soil. “I want to use my research at Yamagata University to improve the food security in Nigeria. There are many ways I can apply my research on rice to other crops," he says.
Seeds selected for research. In addition to Japanese varieties, African varieties are also being grown in Tsuruoka to study their growth.” When I tasted Japanese rice for the first time, I was surprised at its unique stickiness and took a while to get used to. African rice has a dry texture.”
He started living in Tsuruoka City, where the campus is located, in 2022. He says on his impression of the city, "Seeing the green mountains and the golden rice paddies that are gradually being harvested, I thought it was a place where nature was close at hand.
“I was impressed by the beautiful cherry blossoms at the Tsuruoka Cherry Blossom Festival. The stalls were interesting. I also went to the Tsuruoka Tenjin Festival and the Shonai Grand Festival’s Yaon Festival. I also enjoyed my private life," he says. "I went to the university forest to pick wild vegetables and went ice-skating in the city.”
Mr. Jelani, who is a Muslim, came to Japan with concerns about his diet, but his worries disappeared within a week," he says with a smile. He found a store in Tsuruoka City where he could purchase Halal-certified foodstuffs based on the teachings of Islam, as well as restaurants where he could enjoy Halal food.
Mr. Jelani has friends of various nationalities, not limited to the international students of Yamagata university. This photo was taken when he went fishing in the Kamo area of Tsuruoka City. He said, "Tsuruoka is a wonderful town with nature close at hand. There are many interesting and welcoming people here.”
He cleaned and cooked the fish he caught. Although meat is restricted due to his religion, he can eat most seafood and enjoys the delicacies of Tsuruoka's sea. “The cafeteria at the university has halal food," he says cheerfully.
“I have made many friends, both Japanese and international students," says Jelani, who is expanding his network of contacts. Hoping that other international students will be able to live as freely as he did, he established the Yamagata Africa Association, a voluntary organization to support international students. He provides consultation for international students who wish to go on to other universities after graduation, as well as while they are still in school.
“We hope to be of help in resolving various concerns such as adapting to new culture, university life, housing, post-graduation career paths, and job placement. We also share information on events and social gatherings so that they do not feel isolated," he explains.
In the future, he dreams of acting as a bridge between Nigeria and Japan.
“Japan is a country that is saturated with food technology, Nigeria, on the other hand, faces many challenges but also has a lot of potential. I want to propose solutions to the worsening food problems, climate change, inequality, and other issues."
つづきを読む
Abubakar Abdulkadri Jelani
●Born in Nigeria.
2nd year student at the Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Division of Agricultural Science (Bioproduction Science).
Came to Japan to contribute to strengthening food security in his home country, is currently making efforts to support international students.
*Contents and affiliations are as of May 2024.