President Bola Tinubu has underscored the institution of specialized universities of agriculture, to make Nigeria not solely self-sufficient in meals manufacturing, however a path in the direction of attaining meals safety.
Tinubu, who disclosed this on the weekend, in an deal with learn by the Director of Extension Companies, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Meals Safety, Dr Deola- Tayo Lordbanjou, throughout the twelfth Convocation ceremony of Michael Okpara College of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, stated Nigeria has wonderful potentials for agricultural investments.
Whereas noting that the institution of extra of such universities was a effectively thought out and deliberate coverage to make Nigeria self-sufficient in meals manufacturing, the president stated Nigeria wants the strong assist of her agricultural scientists and specialists as strategic sport changers to finish starvation.
A complete of 5,206 graduands, from varied agriculture disciplines, have been conferred with varied levels of the College throughout the Convocation ceremony.
From the breakdown of the 5,026 graduates, 4,781 obtained first levels, 162 have been awarded First Class, 49 Postgraduate Diplomas, 252 Masters and 164 Doctorates (Ph.Ds).
The president stated contemplating the range of Nigerian soil, crops, livestock, local weather and the massive inhabitants, he’s assured that the nation can present its wants for staple meals from native manufacturing.
He lauded the college for nurturing and equipping the agriculture graduates with related information and requisite expertise to drive the nation’s agriculture development and growth engine stressing that “agriculture stays a strategic sector for diversifying our financial system, whereas as a nation, we’re trying as much as the colleges to innovatively drive the transformation of our agricultural sector to attain meals safety, diversify the financial system and broaden the bottom for industrialisation.”
The MOUAU new Professional-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council, Comrade Fidelis Ede, who pleaded that extra Nationwide Training Mortgage Fund (NELFUND) must be channeled to agriculture college students, vowed that the Governing Council shall absolutely adjust to the statutory coverage of to not intrude within the each day administration of universities however attempt to uphold accountability and demonstrable leads to Council’s affairs.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, whereas congratulating the graduates, cited paucity of funds, universities Employees Unions industrial actions, amongst others as their main challenges.
The VC additionally urged the scholars to vary their poor perspective in the direction of accessing the Federal Authorities’s NELFUND and start to entry the mortgage made obtainable on beneficiant phrases.
The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, represented by his deputy, Mr Ikechukwu Emetu tasked the graduates to use the information acquired and play successfully, essential roles in state and nationwide agriculture and meals growth.
