Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
Federal government has announced that the Federal University of Agriculture, located in Zuru, Kebbi State will take off in September 2020.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Muhammad Sabo Nanono, while inaugurating the Interim Management Committee for the institution on Monday, noted that the school will introduce new, flexible and locally relevant programmes geared towards strengthening the link between agriculture and entrepreneurship in the country.
‘’There is no doubt in my mind that the establishment of this university is a great addition to the fortunes of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as it will tremendously add to the national capacity in Agriculture and food security,” he said.
Speaking on the Interim Management Committee, he said the body was constituted to facilitate the operational commencement of the institution.
“The committee is not to be regarded as a governing board but an adhoc structure that is expected to work with the Interim Vice Chancellor to provide good governance on one hand and effectively implement projects and programmes on the other hand for the smooth take-off of the university pending the appointment of the Governing Board,” the Minister said.
He tasked the management of the institution to harness the talents of the highly experienced individuals selected to serve in this committee for maximum impact for the benefit of the institution and the nation.
Responding on behalf of the committee, the Interim Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Prof. Bello Zaki Abubakar, assured the Minister of the panel’s committment to the task ahead, promising to deliver on its mandate.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Mohammed Bello Umar, who was represented by the Director, Special Duties, Mr Zubairu Abdullahi, said that , “It is my belief with the calibre of eminent scholars and experienced personnel on this committee, Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru would commence operations on a very sound footing’’
The event was also attended by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Mustapha Baba Shehuri, and Senator Bala Na’allah.
The committee is expected to lay a solid foundation for the emergence of a unique university that will develop the intellectual capability and skills towards the production of qualitative, entrepreneurial and self- reliant graduates thereby reducing the level of unemployment among graduates.
Also, it would work with the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission, Kebbi State Government, the local community as well as other principal stakeholders in actualizing the smooth take-off of the university.
In addition, it is expected to develop a practicable and acceptable academic brief in line with the aspiration of the present administration of job creation for the teeming Nigerians youths by entrenching entrepreneurship training as a precondition for graduation from the University, among others.
