Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, on Tuesday, began the modalities to initiate a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between Texas Agriculture and Medicine University, United States of America, USA, on ranching and training programmes.
El Capricho Ag Consulting of the US University, Dr. Alfonso Ortega, who was in ESUT with his colleague, Dr. Ambrose O. Avoruo and the Enugu State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Patrick Nwabueze Ubru, during an interactive session with the University Management, said the state “is blessed with abundant natural resources” which would make the programme to thrive.
Dr. Ortega, further said that the ranching programme would help in the sustainability of the natural resources while equally ensuring profitable livestock businesses to improve the living conditions of the people in the state.
While receiving the delegation which also included the Enugu State Project Coordinator, L-PRES, Dr Ifeyinwa Nnajieze, and the Special Adviser to the Governor of Enugu State on Agriculture, Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, stated that the University was exploring certification programmes with reputable institutions and firms to ensure employability of her graduates.
He further said that the University was working towards making her Faculty of Agriculture, a centre of excellence to drive the vision of embarking on commercial agriculture in the University.
He also said that, ESUT as a University of Science and Technology had purchased an innovation hub which would enable her to be at the vanguard of creativity and innovation, adding that the Faculty of Agriculture had the needed manpower to drive the ranching programme of the state government.
He also stressed the University Management’s wish that the ranching programme trainees be drawn from the 17 local government areas of the state to boost food security and livestock production in the state.
He also requested the state government to expand the already existing agricultural facilities at the University for commercial agriculture production.
While assuring the cooperation of the personnel of the University with the US institution on the MoU, the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, ESUT, Professor Emeka Nze, stated that the University had abundant human resources to drive the ranching programme of the state government.
Recall that Enugu State Government accented to the Public Ranch Management Agency Law on July 3, 2024 to forestall frequent clashes between herders and farmers in the state and equally to check open grazing of livestock in the state.
