The Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) has step up its fight to emerging as the food basket of the state in the near future.
This followed a recent indication by the State Ministry of Agriculture to partner with the university in order to sustain food production.
Inspecting the institution’s vast arable land at its Ndele campus recently, the State Commissioner of Agriculture, Barr Onimim Jack, assured on the interest of the ministry.
“We are prepared to partner with you (IAUE) for food security, especially with food crisis experienced each time the northern states fail to supply the state with food stuff produced”, she said.
The Commissioner, who was represented at the occasion by the Director, Bureau of Public Private Partnership (BPPP), Barr Nimisoere Walson-Jack, noted that if the available empty land was put under cultivation, “it would increase the amount of food produced for the state for mutual benefit of both parties”.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele, expressed joy over the partnership, noting that Ndele campus “is a potential source of revenue that is underdeveloped and unexplored”.
Expressing optimism that his dream of making the campus a food basket for the state is about to be realized, Prof Ndimele noted that “the underutilized and idle land had been a hideout for criminals who used it for their nefarious activities”.
“Commercial farming is not only vital for keeping the state, and  federal, but would greatly reduce the high level of food stuff importation and lower the prices of agricultural products in the state”, he concluded.