The management of the Ogun – Oshun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORBDA) and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta has agreed to collaborate in order to ensure food sufficiency in the country.
The two organisations came to this agreement during a courtesy visit by the Governing Council of the institution led by Pro – Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi, Odundun IV, Asoludero, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji Land to the Authority’s headquarters in Abeokuta yesterday.
In his welcome address, the Managing Director/CEO, O-ORBDA, Engr. Dr Adedeji Ashiru, FNSE, FNImechE, FNIWE said the management and staff of the Authority are delighted to receive the Governing Council.
“We are delighted to receive the Governing Council of FUNAAB, and we consider the visit a great opportunity to strengthen our partnership and collaboration in advancing the frontiers of agricultural sector, we share a common goal of promoting sustainable agricultural practices, enhancing food security, and empowering our youth to become leaders in the agricultural industry” he said.
Ashiru said further that the Authority in its efforts at ensuring food security in the country has procured twenty five tractors for dry season farming and has awarded contracts for the construction of seven dams with irrigation facilities across the four states of coverage.
He added that the Authority’s team will visit FUNAAB’s dam site for the purpose of citing an irrigation project at the university, in order to maximise the thousands of hectares of land available at the University.
He said the Authority has been empowering the youth graduates on agricultural practices, part of which is the inauguration of fifty graduates at the Authority’s Graduate Youth Empowerment Programme where the participants would be empowered at the end of six months training to go into agricultural practices.
The Managing Director said since there’s availability of land at the University, successful graduate trainees could be seconded to obtain land at University. All this, he said is to achieve President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate of ensuring food security in the country.
“We look forward to exploring areas of mutual interest, sharing our experiences, and identifying opportunities for collaboration. We are confident that this engagement will yield fruitful outcomes that will benefit both our organisation and the nation at large” he concluded.
Earlier in his address, the Pro- Chancellor, Oba Olabomi said the Governing Council are here on courtesy visit to familiarise ourselves, we are neighbours, we share boundaries, we have so many good things to share together.
“The two institutions’ objectives are similar which has to do with food security. Above all, I consider it very germane to have synergy between
OORBDA, FUNAAB.”
Oba Olabomi pointed out that the collaboration between the two organisations could also create job opportunities for graduate to go into farming.This he said could be achieved when the Authority provides the irrigation facilities and the University provides the land for cultivation. FUNAAB is for research and training whatever we do, we have to ensure that our research products as an institution
is taking to the community there should be a synergy between the town and the gown in the area of food security.
“We need you like you also need us and by extension the whole society, Southwest need us, we must change the narrative of our farming.
“We want to demand maximum benefits from the services of O-ORBDA, it is our believe that with this our visit, we want to form a serious and long lasting collaboration which will be mutual benefits.
” I was happy when I saw some tractors when I entered the premises, when we provide good enabling environment for our youth they will farm.”
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olusola Kehinde in his remark thanks the Authority for receiving the team at short notice.
Prof. Kehinde further said as the best University of Agriculture in Africa and 7th best in the World, the University would strive to serve the nation better in all endeavours.
Others at the meeting were top members of the Management team of the Authority, Deputy Vice Chancellors, members of the councils and Registrar of the University.
