The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has embarked on an ambitious agricultural intervention for 2025, aiming to revolutionize commercial farming and livestock production in Nigerian universities. Under this initiative, ten universities with established agricultural faculties and functional commercial farms are set to benefit from support to establish mechanized farming and livestock operations.
In a recent ceremony in Abuja, TETFund’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Aminu Bello Masari, inaugurated a five-member Agricultural Commercial Farms Evaluation Committee tasked with ensuring transparency and objectivity in selecting universities eligible for the program. Eligible institutions must have at least 50 hectares of unencumbered land and at least one agricultural value chain with existing commercial farm operations.
Masari emphasized that agriculture remains a fundamental pillar of Nigeria’s socio-economic development, offering food security, employment, poverty alleviation, and national prosperity. He stressed the importance of embracing modern agricultural technologies such as automation, precision farming, and data analytics, which have transformed agricultural productivity globally and hold similar potential for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
This intervention aligns with the government’s broader agenda to harness education, research, and innovation for sustainable agricultural growth. TETFund is also funding the establishment of agricultural research laboratories and demonstration farms across several universities to support tech-driven crop and animal production improvements.
Masari underscored that revitalizing agriculture will reduce Nigeria’s dependence on food imports, increase incomes for rural farmers, and foster inclusive economic growth that bridges the urban-rural divide. The initiative also reinforces the historical significance of agriculture as Nigeria’s economic backbone before the oil boom.
The Evaluation Committee comprises experts from the Ministries of Education, Agriculture, and Livestock Development, the National Universities Commission, and the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria. Over the coming weeks, they will assess institution proposals, rate them on a transparent template, and recommend qualified universities across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
Chairman of the Evaluation Committee, Mr. Ewara E. Bassey, expressed confidence in delivering a thorough and impactful selection process. He reiterated the importance of the initiative in accelerating Nigeria’s agricultural transformation through higher education and innovation.
This project promises to elevate Nigeria’s agricultural education and production capacity, equipping future professionals with hands-on experience in mechanized farming and animal husbandry, thereby driving national food security and economic diversification.
More than news- Its Icegate