Michael Okpara varsity ready to boost animal feeds production

*Graduates 8, 369 students in 11th Convocation

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe VC

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, (MOUAU) says it would soon commence production of animal feeds in commercial quantity.

MOUAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, made this known in Umuahia on Thursday, November 23, 2023, during a pre-convocation Press Conference heralding the university’s 11^th Convocation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, November 25, 2023.

At the Convocation, 8, 369 students who gained admission in 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2022/2022 sessions would be graduating from the school.

Of this number, 121 students would be graduating with First Class; 1, 941 with Second Class Honours (Upper Division); 3, 063 with Second Class Honours (Lower Division); 1, 121 with Third Class and six with Pass.

Also, 6, 917 would be awarded Bachelor’s Degree, while 159 graduands would be conferred with   Postgraduate Diploma, 802 with Master’s Degree and 491 with Doctorate Degree.

 Prof. Iwe told newsmen that the production of the animal feeds, which is part of the drive to making MOUAU an entrepreneurial university in line with her dreams of attaining a level of enterprise that would boost her internally-generated revenue, would start in about two months.

“Within the next two months, our feed mills will be functioning. We will have enough feed for our animals and excess to sell for profit,” the 6^th Vice Chancellor of MOUAU told newsmen.

The internationally certified food scientist also disclosed that the university was working hard to boost its fish production by producing its feeds internally, adding that this would also bring more revenue to the institution.

Listing some of the university’s factories already in operation, Prof. Iwe said: “Our bread and biscuit factory, as well as our water factory are growing exponentially. All our Colleges are also thriving. Our College of Animal Science and Animal Production (CASAP) and the College of Crop and Soil Science (CCSS), for instance, are vigorously driving a level of animal and crop production that is consistent with our vision.”

He said that the institution was enhancing its laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment, adding “we will continue to do so for sciences and engineering.”

The Vice Chancellor said that MOUAU has equally recorded modest successes In the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), through increasing the university’s bandwidth and expects to achieve full coverage by the end of 2024, embarked on biometrics capturing of all student to enhance security, strengthen examinations and facilitate speedy preparation of transcripts; as we as computerization of operations of the Bursary Department, and engaging in important linkages with over 20 other universities worldwide.

Problems militating against the university’s march to greatness, Prof Iwe said, include inadequate physical facilities, poor funding, non-release of take-off grant from government,

high demand for provision of amenities and public utilities, especially electricity and water and bad roads. Others are access to and control of the land acquired for the university by the federal government and constant disruptions in the academic calendars due to national industrial actions

Assessing the performance of the institution since its inception, the Vice Chancellor said: “In the 30 years of existence, MOUAU has cumulatively made a giant stride in academics, human capital development, infrastructure, community service and administration.

“Academically, the university is making steady progress. Our graduates are part of the manpower that have been contributing immensely towards the socio-economic and political development of the nation.

“In line with the vision of our founding fathers, many of our products have become established farmers, employers of labour and major contributors towards ensuring food security in Nigeria.

“On the other hand, many of our staff have carried out cutting-edge researches, won national and international grants, price awards for community service and obtained

fellowships from institutions, professional associations and organizations.”

He explained that the 11^th Convocation Ceremony was a demonstration of the commitment of authorities of MOUAU to the university calendar. This, he said, was because all government-owned universities were yet to recover from the impact of COVID-19.

However, he said that MOUAU tried to navigate through the negative impact of COVID-19 and the eight-month long industrial action by staff unions by combining two academic sessions in the last session “to make sure that we meet up and graduate more students.” He said despite the great challenges of funding, the school ended the session successfully.

Other members of the university’s management were present during the Press Conference.