RSSDA Partners UNIPORT On Agric

The Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Port Harcourt to promote Agricultural development in Rivers State.
Speaking during the signing of the MoU at the RSSDA Board room in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the Executive Director of the agency, Mr Noble Pepple, said the initiative was to find a common ground to improve lives and livelihood in the state through investment in agricultural activities.
The Executive Director stated that agriculture was one of the key areas of RSSDA development concern, including human capital development and job creation.
According to  the Executive Director, the Songhai farm will be used  as a platform for training of students from the University of Port Harcourt, while the institutions collaboration will provide the intellectual backbone needed to achieve the cardinal objective of sustainable development .He said the Songhai facility has trained 1,300 farmers while 350 students, mostly from the University of Port Harcourt have also undergone training at the farm.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellors of the University, Prof Joseph Ajienka who led the team, thanked the Rivers State Government for establishing the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency, which he said, was at the forefront of promoting, entrepreneurial  growth and sustainable development in the state.
He pledged the commitment of the institution towards the partnership in agricultural development, which is the hallmark of the MoU.
He said the comparative advantage of the state’s natural environment will be fully tapped to create employment opportunities in the state through the partnership, and added that the University of Port Harcourt was moving beyond academic research  to become an enterpreneural university.
The UNIPORT VC, who disclosed that Rivers State has the biggest Songhai farm, pointed out that investment in agriculture was a hallmark to promoting employment , wealth creation and food sufficiency.