Babcock, Farm Connect sign MoU on crop, poultry production
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
Babcock University, Ilisan Remo and Farm Connect have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the development of a green (indoor) agricultural project comprising crops and poultry production.
The controlled environment agriculture, to be located in a 15 screen houses on a half hectare net house at Iperu, would run for three years in the first phase.
Speaking at a brief signing ceremony, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ademola Tayo, expressed joy that this was happening at a time when the university would play host to 28 Vice Chancellors of the Adventists’ universities in Africa.
“This would be a test case and I hope it would be something to trigger a revolution among these African universities and also a good way to begin a long lasting relationship with Farm Connect,” he said.
While noting that ‘agreements were as good as those who implement them’, Professor Tayo urged the partner not to disappoint on their part to earn more jobs and recommendations.
On Babcock’s part, Professor Tayo said, “We would keep our own part,” saying that if the project is well executed, it would serve as a stop gap to Nigeria’s food crisis triggered by the bandits’ onslaught on farmers in the Northern part of the Country.
In his response, CEO, Farm Connect, Mr. Azeez Olawale said he was going into the project with all the zeal.
“We are committed to this project than profiting from it,” he said.
Olawale said not only did he see the project as an act of worship to God but also a way of addressing food security in the country.
He said he was singling out higher institutions because he liked to live his life by adding value and that a lot of destines would be affected if the project was sited in Babcock.
Mr. Olawale said his dream is also to change the story of how agriculturalists are perceived by people.
Chairman of seven-man Think Tank, Prof Cyril Nwangburoka said the MoU was the outcome of its painstaking assignment as directed by Vice Chancellor when the proposal was handed over to them in March this year.
