Tinubu charges specialized varsities to drive agric sector transformation
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged Universities of Agriculture in the country to drive the transformation of the agricultural sector to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food production.
President Tinubu gave the charge on Saturday, November 29, 2024 during the 12th Convocation ceremony of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), in Abia State.
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria noted that the specialized universities were specifically floated to assist the country to achieve self-sufficiency in food production, adding that transforming the agricultural sector would have multiplier effect on the country’s economy.
Addressing the convocation, President Tinubu, represented by the Director of Extension in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Deola Tayo Lordbanjou, said that he was confident that Nigeria could feed herself if agriculture was given due attention by all stakeholders.
“The establishment and progressive increase of specialized Universities of Agriculture in this country was well thought out and properly planned to make our country self-sufficient in food production.
“As a nation, we are looking up to the universities to innovatively drive the transformation of our agricultural sector to achieve food security, diversify the economy and broaden the base for industrialization,” the President said.
According to him, since agriculture remains a strategic sector for diversifying the economy and reducing her dependence on oil, Nigeria, therefore, needs the solid support of her agricultural scientists and experts as strategic game changers to end hunger in the country.
Consequently, he said, the government has increased the number of agricultural universities in the country to produce more experts whose technical skills and expertise would continue to be required “until we reach the Promised Land of food security.”
The President expressed confidence that Nigeria, despite her large population, could provide her needs for staple foods from local production as the country’s agricultural investments potentials “is excellent, considering the diversity of our soils, crops, livestock and climate.”
“We can quickly and significantly reduce our dependence on imported food items with solid determination,” he added, while encouraging private organizations and public-spirited individuals to join hands with the government and the universities “to achieve this assailable dream,” President Tinubu added.
He stressed that stakeholders “also need support from our Universities of Agriculture in forming partnerships and linkages to scale up agricultural research findings with a win-win target.”
The President who is the Visitor to the University commended the school for working hard to realize the mission and vision of generating knowledge through which the country could achieve food security.
Vice Chancellor of MOUAU, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, used the opportunity to thank President Tinunbu for granting the institution a waiver to recruit staff to improve its staff-to-students ration.
However, Prof Iwe reminded the Institution’s Visitor that the issue of non-payment of take-off grant to the university was still lingering 30 years on and constituting a big cog in the wheel of the school’s progress.
“It is still on record that our institution is one of those that commenced operations without an initial government grant, fumingly re-emphasising the urgency of funding. We shall be happy to have government address this need without further delay, especially as we are caught up with spiral inflation every moment,” the Vice Chancellor appealed.
He lamented that the rural location of the university has made the provision essential amenities “a daunting task,” given the elevated costs associated with development in such settings.
Prof. Iwe charged students of the school to abide by the school’s regulations and timetable for academic programmes, as well as paying their charges on time.
“We have trained you to be professionally competent and confident persons and have inculcated in you morals that will make for good citizenship. We urge you to be good ambassadors of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture for the rest of your lifetime,” the Vice Chancellor counseled the graduating students.
In his address, Chancellor of MOUAU who is also the Emir of Gombe, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, said he was pleased with the inauguration of the Governing Council of the institution, which absence, he noted, constrained the university in many respects.
Alhaji Abubakar, then appealed to the President to intervene and resolve many teething problems facing the school, including lack of access to its land and non-payment of take-off grant to the university.
“The issue of accessing the university land is strongly hindering the proper implementation of the university’s master plan. The Visitor may also wish to know that this is yet to receive its take-off grant even after 30 years of existence. I sincerely appeal to the Visitor to kindly look into these problems as we have implicit confidence that your directive will bring succor to this university,” the Chancellor said.
Also addressing the convocation, Pro-Chancellor of MOUAU, Comrade Fidelis Edeh, pledged that his Council would not interfere with the day-to-day activities of the management of the school but would rather work hard to deliver on its mandate.
“Let me assure the University Community that our Governing Council will rather strive to uphold accountability and demonstrable results in Council’s affairs… The focal concern of our Council is the pursuit of the mandates/objectives encapsulated in the Establishment Act of the university,” Comrade Edeh promised.
Highlights of the graduation ceremony included admission of 5, 246 graduands to Bachelor’s Degree, Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s Degree and Doctorate Degree of the university, and award of prizes to students who distinguished themselves in their studies.
Out of the 5, 246 graduating students, 164 made First Class, 1, 710 got Second Class (Upper) and 2, 114 pased out with Second Class (Lower). Those who passed with Third Class numbered 734 and nine had Pass while 42 were Unclassified.
Paul Promise Chibuike of the Department of Bio-Chemistry in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, carted home several prizes for emerging the Best Graduating Student.
