EKITI COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE TO TAKE OFF SEPTEMBER ….As Fayemi inaugurates 14-man steering committee Academic programmes in the proposed Ekiti State College of Technical and Commercial Agriculture would commence in September as the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Wednesday inaugurated a 14-man steering committee that will drive the process of the establishment of the College. Inaugurating the committee in Ado Ekiti, the Governor said the College which would run both short and long term certificate awarding courses will develop middle level agricultural manpower that will effectively combine skills with cutting edge technologies to drive agricultural production and productivity as vehicle for industrial and socio-economic growth. Fayemi asserted that graduates from the institution would be tailored to drive and deliver high level technological innovations in Agriculture within and outside the State. “It is my belief that with your valuable inputs, this institution should admit its first set of students by this September. I hereby urge you to sacrifice your time and energy to make the dream a reality. I am here to assure you of my full support in achieving the enormous task lying ahead of you”, he asserted. Speaking on the preparatory processes of establishing the College which will partner with notable international agricultural institutions, the Governor disclosed that the State Government has decided to cede the proposed Oodua Farmers’ Academy complex which is under construction to the College in order to fast-track its establishment. He added that fast-tracked establishment is a critical requirement from AGCO, one of the partners to drive the College, to attract a huge model commercial farm tagged Future Farms. On the justification for the establishment of the College, Fayemi said agriculture is the mainstay of about 70% of the State’s rural population hence the need for the development of sustainable modern agriculture; adding that with the introduction of the Youth in Commercial Agriculture Development (YCAD) programme last year, the citizenry have begun to enjoy products of the programme including chicken, fish, watermelon as well as other vegetables which were previously not grown in the State. The Governor described the proposed establishment of the College as a step towards actualizing the promises to modernize agriculture and generate employment and revenue in the State. He stated that the committee was put together not just to fast-track the take off of the institution but also to streamline and compile materials including curriculum that will ensure qualitative delivery within the context of the requirement of the national education regulatory framework. In his remarks, the lead person for the Committee, Dr Kayode Adesodun assured that the Committee would work carefully and discharge its duties to ensure that the College takes off as soon as possible. Other members of the Committee include the Vice Chancellor of the State University, Professor Dipo Aina, Prof. Sinmisola Odeyinka, Prof. Abayomi Fashina; Professor Matthew Oguntuase, Professor Gabriel Oluwatosin and the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Kehinde Ojo. Others are the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, Director –General of the Bureau of Public Private Procurement, Mr Lekan Faromika; his counterpart in the Bureau of Special Projects, Bayo Kelekun; Finance Commissioner, Dapo Kolawole; Trade, Innovation and Investment Commissioner, Mr Debo Ajayi; and the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Jide Arowosafe; while the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Dare Abegunde is to manage the secretariat. --Olayinka Oyebode Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Ekiti State, Nigeria
Posted on: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:12:54 +0000