By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA NIGERIA – The Deputy Minority Whip and the Senator representing Kano Central has said that establishing Federal University of Agriculture, Kura will further advance the Agricultural policy of the federal government.
Hanga said this in an interaction with newsmen after his bill titled: A bill for an act to establish the federal university of Agriculture, Kura, Kano State scaled second reading on the floor of the senate today.
He posits that the need for multiple Agricultural Universities
across Nigeria is necessary , given the country’s booming population and the necessity to produce
food locally.
Leading the debate on the bill, Senator Hanga noted that the bill is a bold step towards, not only addressing the educational needs of the people of Kano State, but will also serve as training ground for the development of Agriculture in the Country.
He said “Agriculture with its allied sectors is unquestionably the largest livelihood provider, particularly in the rural areas, and can contribute significantly to the GDP of the Nation.
“Demand for agricultural product is rising rapidly with increase in population and per capita income and growing demand from the industrial sector”.
He explained that the Federal University of Agriculture, Kura when established will provide the holistic development of agricultural education, knowledge, skills and the telescopic vision on the future that will help contribute to accelerate agricultural growth rate, enhance farmers’ income and generate employment in the sector.
Justifying the bill, Senator Hanga stressed that the location of the University, in Kura, is instructive; saying it is the hub of Agriculture in Kano State “and the establishment of the University will certainly register and promote the presence of the Federal Government in the Area and will help to restore and re-strengthen the citizens’ sense of belonging to this nation”.
Additionally, the lawmaker said the objectives of the bill include but not limited to “encourage the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political, conviction the opportunity of acquiring tertiary education in Agriculture
“Develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of Diplomas, First Degrees, Postgraduate Research and Higher Degrees which emphasize Planning, Adaptive, Technical, Maintenance, Developmental and Productive skills in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Allied Professional Disciplines with the aim of producing socially matured persons with capacity to improve on those disciplines and develop new ones, and to contribute to the scientific transformation of agriculture in Nigeria.
“Act as agents and catalysts, through postgraduate training, research and innovation for the effective and economic utilization, exploitation and conservation of Nigeria’s natural, agricultural, economic and human resources” among others.
Specifically, Hanga observed that the passage of the bill will help not only in transforming and supporting the agricultural policies of the federal government, the agricultural sector in Kano State and other neighboring States like, Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi and Kaduna, but also Nigeria and West Africa in general.
