Faculty of Agriculture, UNN @ 50 It was a gathering of alumni from across the country as the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka celebrated her Golden Jubilee/Home-coming Ceremony at the Margaret Expo Convocation Arena, UNN. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin C. Ozumba who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Edwin Igbokwe in his address, commended the Department for producing many eminent persons in different walks of life both within and outside the country. Coincidentally Prof. Igbokwe is also an alumnus of the faculty. He continued that there was need for the faculty to celebrate because the University of Nigeria was founded as the first Land Grant University in Africa with the assistance of Michigan State University under the US-AID (United States Agency for International Development) programme. He added that the seed money contributed by Eastern Nigeria for the establishment of the University was generated from Agriculture especially the oil palm projects which Eastern Nigeria was known for at that time. The Vice-Chancellor reiterated that since the inception of the Faculty, the Founding fathers amassed more than 309 hectares of land for agricultural practices and research in the Faculty, while subsequent administrations set up useful facilities. This was to ensure that students were guided over the years to acquire meaningful scientific and technical knowledge in their disciplines to eventually take up Agriculture as a profession after graduation. He added that he believed that the Faculty of Agriculture is a potential source of income for funding some of the University’s development in the future and disclosed that the university may not easily achieve the desired pace of growth if it does not have the support of the private sector and organized alumni associations. The Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Simeon O. C. Ugwu said it was a memorable event in the history of the faculty as it celebrated the Golden Jubilee and home-coming of past graduates of the first land grant Faculty of Agriculture not only in Nigeria but in Africa. Professor Simeon Ugwu, who was overwhelmed that the third and first indigenous Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Bede Nwoye Okigbo was present, said the Faculty became a full-fledged faculty in 1961 with Professors Kirk Patrick Lewton and Kenyon T. Payne both of Michigan State University, USA as the first and second Deans respectively. Prof. Ugwu pointed out that the faculty was facing a lot of challenges. The fourth year (farm year) programme which was the first among Nigerian universities was introduced in 1976. According to him, the programme became more rigorous as most of the farm machines and implements broke down without replacement, farm practices filled with drudgery had become scary to students, farm structures collapsed and animal numbers dwindled. Hence, the gross outcome became reduction in quality of research, as well as in quality of delivery and up-take of relevant scientific information. Meanwhile, the Keynote Speaker and Managing Director/Country Director (Nigeria) for Crown Agents Nigeria Ltd, Dr. Mark Abani who is also an alumnus with First Class Honours and Best Graduating Student of both the Department and Faculty said Agriculture was and should be the keystone for the country’s development. He reiterated that agriculture should be approached as a business and not as a hobby. “Agriculture requires skills and knowledge hence, the need to work closely with the departments of Food Science and Technology for the processing of farm products and Agricultural Engineering for the necessary machineries and infrastructures. Noting that with technological development in processing and storage of farm produce, there would be an increased income revenue generations”, he said. Dr. Abani said that in order to excel in the field of agriculture, there was need to integrate and form co-operatives, develop new high breeds, seek sponsorship as an institution and consider public private practices”. He therefore urged all alumni to contribute to the growth of the Department and development of the faculty so as to get back to its enviable position whereby her graduates would continue to excel even after 50years. The climax of the occasion was the presentation and launching of the faculty book titled “Iroko from Sapling”. The book was a compendium of the history of the Faculty of Agriculture. The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Ignatius U Obi advised the students to be hard working so as to be employers of labour rather than be an employee. In attendance were wife of the Keynote Speaker, Mrs. Nnenna Abani; Hon. Ossai N. Ossai represented by Barrister Chris Agidi, Mr. Frank Amagwu from the Development Finance Department, CBN, Abuja; Provost, College of Education, Ehamufu, Rev. Canon Prof. Ben N. Mbah, Commissioner for Environment in Enugu State, Dr. Nnaemeka Chukwuonye, and Former President, Plant, Soil Science Department, Dr. N. Okwor. Others were President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria and Head, Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, UNN, Prof. (Mrs) Ngozi Nnam, the traditional ruler of Nru-Nsukka autonomous community, Igwe Sylvester Aruma, former Deans of the faculty, members of staff among others. Olanrewaju Ajala
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 10:01:43 +0000
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