The Ondo State Government has increased the number of its universities to four with the upgrading and conversion of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, to a full-fledged University of Agriculture and Agribusiness.
Gov. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa announced this after a review of the initial proposal for the upgrade of the polytechnic to a university of management science and technology by the administration of the late Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu.
Persecondnews recalls that the polytechnic was established by an edict in 1979 with the name The Polytechnic, Owo by the then Military Governor Sunday Tuoyo.
It became operational in January 1980 when the then elected governor, the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin took office.
Aiyedatiwa said the school would be a model for the agriculture and food security revolution initiative of his administration.
According to him, a committee will soon be set up to work out the modalities for the implementation of the conversion.
The governor assured that the conversion would not have any negative effects on the current students and staff of the institution.
He also approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and a private investor for the injection of N15 billion into a youth-oriented agriculture initiative in the state.
The MoU is to ensure the establishment and operation of the Young Ranchers Agricultural Cluster Development Programme between the government and AgroMall Discovery and Extension Limited.
Under the agreement, the company will make use of five hectares of land in each of the three clusters in the state, using three higher institutions, including the newly upgraded polytechnic as host pilot beneficiaries.
The initiative will focus on practical farming for young people and practical training for students in mechanized agriculture and agric related operations.
In addition to providing training to students, the host institutions will also receive a percentage of the revenue generated from the sale of farm products cultivated on their land.
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