Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has approved upgrading and converting the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, to a University of Agriculture and Agribusiness.
The conversion of the state Polytechnic came after the state government’s last administration reviewed the initial proposal to upgrade the institution to a University of Management Science and Technology.
Governor Aiyedatiwa announced the school’s conversion to the University of Agriculture and Agribusiness upon his assumption of office after the inauguration. He said the school would be the model for the state government’s agri-food security revolution initiative.
The Governor added that the government would set up a committee to work out the modalities for implementing the conversion while assuring that this would not negatively affect the current students and staff of the institution.
Also, the governor approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and a private investor to inject N15 billion into a youth-oriented agriculture initiative.
The MoU was an agreement between the government and AgroMall Discovery and Extension Limited to establish and operate the Young Ranchers Agricultural Cluster Development Programme.
The company will use 5 hectares of land in each of the state’s three clusters, with three higher institutions, including the newly upgraded RUGIPO, as host pilot beneficiaries.
The initiative will focus on practical farming for young people and practical training for agriculture and related operations students.
Aside from training of the students, each of the three institutions to be used as hosts also stands to benefit a percentage from the proceeds of the operations.
In a related development, Governor Aiyedatiwa has approved a Memorandum of Understanding with BBA Consult on developing and deploying secured ICT to enhance state resources planning and management and increase revenue generation.
This agreement, which aims to reform the internally generated revenue profile of the State, will be on a Build, Operate and Transfer basis.
