FUNAI AGRIC FACULTY INAUGURATES FARM

•  Sells first harvest

The Faculty of Agriculture of the Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State on Thursday, 18^th May, inaugurated its farm, calling on the various stakeholders in Nigeria to show greater commitment to agriculture and allied activities to end hunger and poverty in the country.

A section of the Farm where cucumbers were cultivated

Declaring the event open, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba represented by his Deputy, Professor Sunday Elom noted that the varsity’s farm would be productive and self-sustaining, devoid of bureaucratic bottlenecks that have negated the success of many University farms in Nigeria.

Professor Elom reiterated the University’s determination towards grooming people with hands-on experience, saying “we don’t just want to run and operate a normal Faculty of Agriculture, but one with a difference.

DVC, Prof. Sunday Elom dpeaking during the event

“We are determined to make a difference that is why we decided to make the University farm productive and self-sustaining
“The products (cucumber) are organically produced and it’s different from the ones you have in the market”, he said

Earlier, the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Johnny Ogunji blamed the nation’s economic woes on the discovery of oil at Oloibiri in Bayelsa State, which according to him, triggered a paradigm shift away from Agriculture.

Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Jonny Ogunji showcasing a cucumber produced in the farm

Decrying the nation’s overreliance on crude oil, Ogunji said agriculture was the surest way out of the economic woods facing our nation, and called on Nigerians to return to farming for food security.

He further used the opportunity to invite members of the University community to be co-owners of the farm by buying at least 400 units of its shares at N50 each. This, he said would increase the capital base of the farm and enable them embark on other commercial farming activities.

The inauguration was witnessed by members of the University community that included some Management staff.

L-R: Director, Centre for Development Assistance Management, Partnership and Training, Mr. Chris Uwadoka, Registrar, Mrs. Odisa Okeke, DVC, Prof. Sunday Elom, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Jonny Ogunji and Director, Centre for Human Resource Development, Prof. Chinyere Nnorom posing with some of the cucumbers from the farm

The highpoint of the event was the sale of cucumbers which were produced in the University farm.

Some senior staff of the University making their choice from the cucumbers