Prof. Phil Harris of the Coventry University, United Kingdom, flanked by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun(in ‘agbada’) and other Principal officers of the University.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun has disclosed the intention of Management to establish a full-fledged Centre of Organic Agriculture in the University’s Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR).
Disclosing this at a meeting with Professor Phil Harris of the Coventry University, United Kingdom, the Vice-Chancellor reiterated his readiness to provide the necessary support towards sustaining the partnership between UNAAB and Coventry University on Organic Agriculture.
Professor Balogun who noted that the creation of the academic centre would actualize the dreams of the University in the area of producing quality food through Organic Agriculture, expressed his satisfaction that other Universities have started to key into the project initiative.
He pointed out that UNAAB was interested in a lifelong relationship with Coventry University while it has concluded arrangement to send some professionals to Coventry University for the required training.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the University Management believes in training and retraining of its personnel with an annual commitment of sponsoring at least six members of staff on international training.
The Vice-Chancellor appreciated Coventry University for using its vantage position in getting grants for capacity building in Organic Agriculture for UNAAB, but pleaded that such grants should be extended to cover purchase of equipment and extension services.
He observed that the equipment were urgently required to assist trained personnel in the multiplication of knowledge and sensitization among local farmers.
The Vice-Chancellor assured Professor Phil Harris that the University would make available, the required counterpart fund for released grants, while it is ready to negotiate other areas of partnership with Coventry University.
