The Federal Government has unveiled plans to support commercial agricultural production across 40 tertiary institutions through the Renewed Hope Tertiary Agricultural and Entrepreneurship Programme, aimed at improving food security and creating employment opportunities.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed the initiative in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.
The programme seeks to convert underutilised land belonging to universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions into productive agricultural centres capable of supporting large-scale farming.
According to Alausa, the initiative forms part of efforts to strengthen the relationship between academic research, agricultural production and economic development.
He explained that participating institutions would be required to provide approximately 1,000 hectares of land each for commercial farming activities.
The Bank of Agriculture would subsequently provide financing ranging from ₦1 billion to ₦2 billion per institution to support implementation.
The minister also identified a broader target of more than 500,000 hectares for commercial agricultural development under the initiative.
Beyond financial assistance, participating institutions would receive agricultural equipment and production materials, including tractors, improved seedlings, irrigation facilities, fertilisers and other modern farming implements.
Technical support would also be provided to improve productivity and encourage the adoption of efficient agricultural practices.
Alausa said the programme was designed to involve students, unemployed graduates, university alumni, institutional staff and residents of host communities.
“The programme will create opportunities for students, unemployed graduates, university alumni, staff and members of host communities to participate in commercial farming,” he stated.
To address marketing challenges, the minister disclosed that arrangements would be established with produce aggregators to purchase harvested crops and minimise post-harvest losses.
He added that the programme would complement previous agricultural interventions supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
According to him, the ministry had also allocated ₦20 billion in its capital budget to support agricultural initiatives in 20 tertiary institutions.
Reacting to the announcement, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed, welcomed the programme as an opportunity to commercialise agricultural research and expertise developed within the institution.
Similarly, the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Dr Chioma Awuzie, said the initiative would enable the institution to make better use of available land while expanding its agricultural activities.
The Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to providing financial assistance and connecting participating institutions with agricultural markets.
He noted that the programme could enable tertiary institutions to increase food production beyond their immediate communities while generating additional revenue.
Alausa assured stakeholders that the ministry would collaborate with relevant agencies and participating institutions to ensure effective implementation and achieve the programme’s objectives.
Ezeana Emmanuel
