Al-Hikmah varsity can feed Kwara, says VC

BSU to self-fund through farming, printing

Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Prof. Noah Yusuf, has said the institution has the capacity to become the “food basket” of the state.

Yusuf spoke in Ilorin, yesterday, at a press briefing heralding the 12th Convocation of the university. According to him, the proposition will only be feasible if the Federal Government gives constant financial assistance to private universities.

Besides, he canvassed adequate security for Nigerian farmers.

“The faculty of agriculture of the institution has robust programmes that are already at the ripe stage to conveniently feed the people of the state,” he disclosed.

Already, the students and staff population at the Igbaja campus, Ifelodun Local Council, of the university depend on harvests from the school’s farms for feeding.

He noted: “It is one of our cardinal policies to put into practice things we teach our students. Therefore, as an institution, we have a robust support for the Faculty of Agriculture in Igbaja campus on crop production, animal husbandry and poultry.

“As I address you, we no longer go out to look for food; we produce every food we eat at our campus in Igbaja. Very soon, we will begin to produce enough food for the entire people of Kwara.”

Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, will on Friday, December 9, deliver the Convocation Lecture, entitled ‘Democratic Transition and the Challenges of Good Governance in Nigeria.’

Varying degrees and diplomas will be conferred on 1,280 graduands on Saturday, December 10, at the grand finale of the week-long convocation ceremonies.

Three prominent Nigerians – Fola Adeola, Mrs. Mosun Bello-Olusoga and Mrs. Foluke AbdulRazak – will be conferred with honorary doctorate degrees of the university.

SIMILARLY, the Vice Chancellor, Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, Prof. Tor Iorapuu, has said the institution will soon commission its farm that will prioritise dry season farming to ensure year-round availability of farm produce in the state and beyond on a commercial scale.

As a measure aimed at finding alternative source of funding for the university, Iorapuu said the institution’s Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER) produces bread and water, with the university printing press centre coming up to boost the financial status of the institution.

The VC, in a chat with The Guardian in Abuja, yesterday, noted that BSU was established not just to build human resources for the state but also to serve as the voice of the Middle Belt in Northern Nigeria.

According to Iorapuu, BSU, which became the first state-owned university in Northern Nigeria, has enormous manpower and has being transferring human resource to other universities in the country and beyond.