A bill for the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture in Araromi Obu in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State has been read the second time on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.
While leading the debate, Nicholas Tofowomo, the Senator representing Ondo South at the National Assembly under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the University would become the fountain of Agricultural research in Rubber and Oil Palm in Nigeria if the bill is passed and signed by the President.
Senator Tofowomo further stressed that the University would become a Catalyst for an effective agricultural system through graduate and post-graduate training and research – an innovation for effective agricultural utilization and concentration of Nigeria’s agricultural resources.
“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, it will surprise you to know that Malaysia obtained oil palm technology from Western Nigeria in the 1950s and as of today Malaysia is the largest producer of Oil palm in the world which is unfortunate became of our negligence in oil palm production and development.”
“As of today, we are far behind in world production of Oil palm. The establishment of Federal University of Agriculture Araromi Obu would reverse the trend and develop the under-performing Oil palm production.”
“You may wish to know that Ten Thousand (10,000) hectares of land allocated to Ayesan/Araromi Oil Palm is available and ready to be ceded to the University for Utilization.”
“The Rubber Estate and Ayesan/Araromi Obu Oil Palm Plantation has been playing a meaningful role in developing both Araromi Obu and Ayesan and with the establishment of this university, it would strengthen these agricultural institutes with the communities and these would create massive employment in the University, Rubber Estate and the Oil palm plantation.”
“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, this University would be unique because of an established agricultural Institution that would play a big role from its inception.”
“In line with Order 77(3) of the Senate Standing order 2015 as amended, a compendium of the financial implication of the establishment of the university is hereby attached.”
“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, I urge you to support this bill for the second reading and make it historic,” Tofowomo added.
Starnews Nigeria reports that the bill scaled second reading on Wednesday.
The bill has however been referred to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions with the mandate to report back to the Senate within four weeks.
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