NEWS
Plan to Relocate Michael Okpara University to Permanent Site in Olori in Ikwuano Underway – VC
Plans to relocate Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike its permanent site at Olori in Ikwuano Local Government Area has begun to enable mechanized farming and research.
The Vice -Chancellor Prof Maduebibisi Iwe disclosed this at the 1st Abia NUJ Agric Show 2025 with theme “Fighting Food Insecurity Through Practical Agriculture” held at the Police Officers Mess, Umuahia on Tuesday.
Iwe said Umudike land is only a small part of the land given to the institution hence his doggedness had led to relocating the University to the Olori permanent site.
He said the institution has lived up to expectations in its 32 years, producing over 60, 000 graduates in various disciplines to fulfill the national policy of food sufficiency and fiber production.
The VC represented by Prof Kayode Simonyan, Director, Directorate of University Research Administration, commended Abia NUJ for organizing the agricultural show and expressed hope it would continue.
Eze Linus Ntoh Mba, Chairman, Abia Traditional Rulers Council, praised the NUJ for the initiative to encourage expansion of farming in the state.
Eze Nto Mba inspecting exhibition from MOUAU at 1st Abia NUJ Agric Show
“What you are doing today is very good it would help our people to have food sufficiency,” he said.
Mba thanked the chapel for inviting him to be part of the event and made a cash donation to the chapel.
High Chief Boniface Ariekpere, the CEO, Omamma Foundation thanked the NUJ for the idea of floating an agricultural show.
He said the show would encourage youth to venture into farming for food sufficiency stressing it would cut down the rate of crime among them.
“In the past, we didn’t buy pepper from the market, every man had a yam barn, and everybody planted maize, we need to return to such lifestyles because of its benefits.
“Whatever it would take to the elevate this union to do more, I will support it,” he said.
The Chairman, Abia NUJ, Mr Chidi Asonye, said the chapel organised the agricultural show because it knew it was time to be part of agricultural revival rather than just reporting its decline.
“This agric show therefore is our response to a national emergency – the growing hunger in a nation rich in arable land and resilient people.
“It is our contribution to fight food insecurity headlong through practical agricultural activities, not just in speeches but in sowing seeds, cultivating partnerships and reaping solutions,” he said.
Asonye urged Abia NUJ to ensure the effort becomes an annual event to bring agric stakeholders to collaborate and to embrace innovation, mechanization and agro-technology to improve agriculture.
Chief Uzoma Nwaogwugwu, National President Nigerian Farmers Cooperative Society (NANFACOS) said the move by NUJ could reposition farming and the lives of Abia residents.
He said that Nigerians are not doing so well in agriculture because of the poor performance of the Bank of Agriculture in supporting the sector as it should.
He said funding is the biggest challenge of improved large scale farming and urged the correction of the problem of hing interest loans to ease the burden.
Some guests who delivered lectures in agriculture-related areas included Dr Chris Nwagboso, CEO, Kritznely Farms Ltd, Mr Emeka Nwachinemerem, CEO Kitovu, Technology Ltd, and Mrs Ngozi Iheji.
Some of the highlights of the event included exhibition of agricultural products and recognition of some distinguished farmers from Abia State.
(NAN)