Last Updated on June 16, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide

… As AMREC Engages Farmers in Landmark Land Allocation Exercise

By Tofunmi Adebayo

In a defining moment for Town-and-Gown relations, the Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has taken a bold step towards deepening community engagement and enhancing the agricultural revitalisation drive of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, by involving local farmers in a strategic farmland demonstration exercise.

On June 13, 2025, AMREC rolled out a landmark initiative, convening key representatives of farming communities neighbouring the University for a critical meeting that transitioned into a field assessment for the allocation of demonstration land.

Speaking at the site, the Director, AMREC, Prof. Jacob Olaoye stated that the exercise was aimed at empowering farmers and strengthening participatory development, adding that the University was fully committed to stakeholder-inclusive agricultural transformation.

The land allocation process steered by Mr. Niyi Odedunmoye, Chairman, Committee on Farmland Allocation, led the farmers and AMREC team through an inspection of two expansive plots of University land, each spanning 20 hectares.

Addressing the gathering on behalf of the farmers, their President, Mr. Jimoh Sobanke; Secretary, Mr. Kolawole Bangboye, and Pastor Omitogun Olamide, cited the easy access of the allocated farmland and its central location, including closeness to essential agricultural facilities as key reasons for their preference. They jointly stated that it was close to the Alumni Farm and the Institute for Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR).

They also commended the University’s open-door policy and the visionary leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, describing the process as historic and inclusive, and lauding it as a model of grassroots engagement that should be replicated across the country. They, however, appealed for an expansion of the allocated land, noting that the current 20 hectares might fall short of meeting the demands of their over 100-member cooperative.

With the University setting a six-month timeline for the commencement of farming activities, expectations were high among the beneficiaries, who see the project as a gateway to productivity, empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods.

More than just a land allocation, the exercise symbolised FUNAAB’s enduring commitment to practical, people-oriented solutions that connect research with real-world impact. Through AMREC, the University was not only promoting best agriculture practices but also giving farmers a voice and a stake, in shaping the future of food security in the region.

Indeed, it was another giant stride for FUNAAB as a leading institution at the intersection of knowledge, innovation, and community transformation.

Photos are attached below 👇