By Ikechukwu Odu

The Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, and Oji Califco Consortium Inc. Nigeria, in conjunction with an American-based multi-dimensional company, African Diaspora Development Company, ADDC, have entered into partnership agreement to develop 954.92 hectares of land at Nkerefi, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State into an integrated farm and bioresources energy community.

While signing the agreement at the permanent site of ESUT, Ebe Ano City, Enugu State, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, stated that the University would provide needed professionals and manpower to ensure adequate researches for the seamless development of the integrated farm.

Prof. Okolie explained that the current ESUT Management has invested heavily on the Institution’s research farm to make it globally competitive, adding that there are varieties of agricultural productions and researches ongoing in the University.

He assured the partners that ESUT will not renege on her part of the agreement, adding that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would expand internship opportunities for the students of the University.

In his remarks, the Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, ADDC, Augustus Ajawara, stated that the partnership with ESUT became necessary because of the need for established research works in the development of the integrated farm and bioresources energy community.

While lauding the innovative leadership of the current ESUT Management, he further stated that ADDC would help to mainstream ESUT research works and equally offer internship and practical research opportunities for the undergraduates of the University.

While explaining the terms of the partnership agreement, the Chairman, ESUT MoU Committee, Prof. T.O Enedu, stated that the agreement will run for 20 years with 30% of the earned revenue accruing to ESUT.

He further said that the scope of the agreement included the development of commercial agriculture, creation of research and innovation hub, and agro-processing systems in the project site among others.

While passing the vote of thanks, the former Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Justina Mgbada, stated that the number of partnership agreement ESUT entered into for agricultural development shows the level of interest of the present ESUT Management has on the Faculty of Agriculture.

Prof Mgbada stressed the critical role of agriculture as the pillar of the nation’s economy and thanked the current Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Emeka Nze for his workaholic nature, which according to her, has launched the faculty on the trajectory of steady progress, innovativeness and research breakthroughs.