Authority of the Kwara State University, (KWASU), Malete on Thursday signed an agreement with an indigenous Agricultural Revolutionary Company, Heart and Capital Nigeria Limited on the cultivation of 500 hectares of land.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’Allah and the Co-Founders of the company, Mallam UmarAdelodun and Mr. AbdulQowiy Olododo, ROYAL NEWS reports.
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In his remark, the Vice -Chancellor of the University, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah said that the event was historic and important because the company is owned by the two former students of the institution.
He stated that he was elated that alumni of the university were partnering with the school to cultivate 500 hectares on the campus.
According to him, the idea of the founders of the company is in resonate with principle of entrepreneurship development of the school.
“Our aim since the inception is to produce graduates like them, who will not be roaming a about the street searching for jobs.
“The University aims to produce those who will have idea that move mountains. We are therefore proud of you because you are already role models on the campus”, he said.
The KWASU’s boss further expressed willingness and readiness to encourage former students of the university who could up with genuine ideas that would benefit the country.
He, however, urged the company to go beyond plantation and process the produce for export.
“The problem we have in Nigeria is not about land, but lack of strategies to make our land useful.
“The act of smartness is to go beyond plantation and process for export to international market.
“It is therefore our goal to promote you to the world because there is no way parents will want their children to come down”, he said.
He, however, urged the company not to disappoint the confidence the university had in the company.
Earlier, a co-founder of the company, Mallam Umar Adelodun had said that the university would provide the land while the firm would do the cultivation.
According to him, the firm is to grow economic and complimentary trees such as cashew and teak even as he commended the Vice-Chancellor for his leadership style that he said had transformed the school over the years.
He said that the firm would forever be grateful for trust and confidence that the university had in them.
Similarly, Mr. Olododo expressed the readiness of the firm to contribute immensely to the economic growth of the country by reducing the alarming rates of unemployment and youth restiveness in the society.
