The California State University, Fresno, United States, has expressed its readiness to partner with the Ogun State government to resuscitate the Odeda Farm Institute for the development of middle level human capital - students.
The institute located in Odeda Local Government Council of the state was established during the agricultural revolutionary years of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in the Southwest of Nigeria.
This was made known in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, by Mr Muyiwa Omololu, who led a three-man delegation to the state government.
The team of agricultural experts from California State University Fresno, had earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government on agriculture.
Omololu, who with his team and state officials, also visited farm settlements in the state, disclosed further that Ogun has the potential to train agriculture manpower and feed the West African countries should it harness the opportunities within her.
He said the university in collaboration with the government, is also weighing the option of setting up a Resource Centre to take care of human resource management in collaboration with international bodies.
According to him, the university will be an interface between the state and grant bodies on best management practice in order to create competition among the farmers in the state especially the young ones.
"With this, the students will see agriculture as a sustainable business and not just as a carrier; this will allow them to have interest in agriculture and to replace the aged populace of farmers in the state, "he said.
The team leader who said that they were motivated by the political will of Governor Ibikunle Amosun's administration, said the university is planning for a structured international market that will absorb the produce of the farm settlements in the state.
Also, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Ayo Oluboris assured that the government would implement recommendations of the university in line with the MoU, adding that the government will be hoping for a solid, concise and with measurable impact within a very short period of time.
-THE NATION
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