Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi Commissions Agricultural Research Institute Center in Kabba-Bunu
The Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has commissioned the Institute of Agriculture Research and Training of the Obafemi Awolowo University Moor Plantation, Ibadan Outstation, facilitated to Kabba-Bunu by Ambassador (Dr.) Jaiyeola Lewu is for intending knowledge seekers and the upcoming generation who will want to acquire deeper knowledge on specialized areas of agriculture that will be useful for the sector and humanity to solve the challenges of hunger in the country.
The Hon Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security was represented by Dr. Aminu Fisayo, while
Dr Charles Eboje represented the Executive Secretary, Agric Research Council of Nigeria.
While commissioning the research center in Kabba, Dr. Aminu Fisayo who represented the Hon Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security said the Outstation is as a result of consistent pressure from stakeholders like Dr Lewu to have such centre for the benefits of the area while Dr Charles Eboje represented the Executive Secretary, Agric Research Council of Nigeria.
The Executive Director of the institute, Prof. Veronica Obatolu, said it has become imperative for the institute to establish a center in Kabba because it is eco-friendly, affordable, and adaptable through effective agricultural research; hence the center is established to support farmers and other stakeholders in North Central.
Speaking to newsmen shortly at the event, Ambassador Jaiyeola Lewu said it took him ten years for the management of the institute to agree to site the Outstation here in Kabba-Bunu, stressing that kudos must be given to the Executive Director of the Institute, Professor Veronica Obatolu who out of her professional wisdom saw the need to have an Out-reach of the work of IAR&T of the Obafemi Awolowo University around here for the benefit of not only the catchment areas of Western Nigeria but Kogi State, Northcentral ans the entire country.
He commended the effort of the management, board, and other officials who have worked tirelessly to achieve the center on Kabba, thanked President Bola Tinubu-led administration, the Obafemi Awolowo University for giving the final approval for the center to be established which will be of great advantage to the farmers and other people who will need their services for the overall development of the Agricultural sector.
According to him, he has donated 20 hectares of suitable and fertile land for the operation of the center, noting that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Evergreen International Limited and IAR&T has created the enabling environment for enhanced cooperation between both organizations which has sustained mutual benefits to both sides.
He assured the management that the people of the area would support the center to achieve its aims and objectives for the overall development of the country.
He appealed to the Federal Government for adequate funding of all the research institutes in the country, particularly the Institute of Agriculture Research and Training (IAR&T), as that would enable them to fulfill their core mandates of carrying out research that will help in producing both food security and exports.
Ambassador Lewu also called for the provision of Agro-Ranger for farmers in Kabba-Bunu and Okun land as that will help to reduce the menace of farmers/herders crisis that sometimes leads to the loss of lives, pointed out that many farmers in the area have been driven out of their farmland by some of the vicious herders hence causing hunger in the land.
