President Mohammadu Buhari said the development of Agriculture in Nigeria must be led by core universities in the sector just as he congratulated the new graduates from the Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture (MOUA) Umudike, Abia State.
Mohammadu Buhari said this at the 10th convocation ceremony of the university in a press statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) during the weekend.
Mr. President who according to the statement was represented by the Agric Minister, Dr. Mohammadu Abubakar said that the core universities in the sector should led in the rapid innovations, knowledge development and skills to drive local productivity of foods and raw materials geared towards achieving self sufficiency, and check importation.
Buhari said that " developing educated farmers with requisite knowledge and skills will firmly position the sector as a business enterprise and as such, should be the primary task of the Agricultural institutions across the country ".
He went further to say " it is expected that universities of Agriculture should also bravely confront the heavy dependence of the nation on imported food and raw materials with the view to reducing it to the barest minimum at the shortest time ".
Mr. President said " we can and should be able to feed ourselves on the rich soils and diverse ecologies that the nation is endowed with. We should be determined to wisely exploit the natural resources and inheritance of our nation to feed our people and possibly export to other nations"
He urged the graduating students and the institutions to be focused and determined, stating that where there is a will, there is a always a way"
Mr. President congratulated the graduaants and promised continuous support for tertiary institutions and educational endeavours in general.
The Executive Governor, Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, represented by the Deputy Governor of the State, RT. Hon. Ude Chukwu said in the statement that Universities of agriculture have great roles to play in linking research, innovations and technologies to farmers and agriculture industry.
He also lauded the diversification policy of the Federal government in the agricultural sector geared towards achieving food and nutrition security and generation of more income to farmers.
Also, the Chancellor of the University , Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar 111, the Emir of Gombe, appreciated " the cooperation of the host communities of the university and their support in enabling the institution access to land.
He called on relevant government agencies not to relent in their efforts in supporting the tertiary institutions across the nation to enable them turn out qualified students for a better developed society.
Also in the statement, the Vice Chancellor of the University , Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, disclosed that a total of Six thousand, Six Hundred and Six Students, (6,606) with four thousand one hundred and fifteen (4,115), representing the 2018/2019 academic year at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
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