APODISSI, a SIMSES follower, serves as a local anchor point in Nigeria for the implementation of the RURALITIES Project. RURALITIES is a Horizon Europe, EU-funded initiative designed to interlink the rural spheres of Africa and the European Union (EU).
It applies an ecosystem-based, knowledge-driven, and social sciences and humanities–oriented methodology to deliver a multi-point expertise and learning framework supported by a network of RURNex actors.
These facilities and actors, which will enable the effective capacity building of rural communities to ensure the sustainable, balanced, and inclusive development of Simplified Socio-Ecological Systems (SIMSES), play a central role in the project. At the same time, they contribute to raising rural communities’ awareness of the diverse drivers of climate change and the pathways available to overcome or mitigate its impacts.
APODISSI, as a technology and knowledge transfer hub, supports the development of research into the challenges faced by farmers in rural parts of Nigeria. It aims to train agricultural workers in the north central part of the country with practical digital tools for detecting and managing fall armyworms in maize and cassava blight, a fungal disease that affects cassava crops. Through technical training sessions, participants will gain experience with digital materials and technologies to detect early warning signs. North central is chosen due to heavy reliance on maize and cassava cultivation, its socio-economic vulnerability to crop failures, and the presence of active local farming groups.
This research provides insights that can inform practical solutions and contribute to comprehensive intercontinental capacity-building initiatives within the framework of the RURALITIES Project.
By serving as a bridge between local realities and global innovation ecosystems, APODISSI helps ensure that the voices and needs of Nigerian rural communities are reflected in wider project activities. In doing so, it extends the impact of the RURALITIES Project beyond its core partners, enabling its outcomes to benefit a broader network of institutions, practitioners, and learners across Africa.
