TheTertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFUND), Arch Sonny Echonu has stated its readiness to assist in strengthening the Agribusiness Incubation Centre at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFUND), Arch Sonny Echonu who made the pledge on Tuesday when the Vice Chancellor of MOUAU, Prof Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe led his management team on a courtesy call on the Executive Secretary in his office at Abuja .
He expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Centre in so short a time and made it clear that it deserved to be assisted by Tetfund to flourish.
He pointed out that the agribusiness Incubation Centre at MOUAU is what the country needs in its bid to tackle food insecurity, especially in creating livelihood for youths and women in the Agricultural sector and assured that Tetfund will do its best to assist the Centre not only in terms of facilities but also to sending academic staff from other institutions to MOUAU for training in the agribusiness value chain
While advocating modernisation and commercialization of the centre in line with modern methods, the Executive Secretary noted with delight hat MOUAU has led the way in the quest to curb hunger through Agriculture.
In his address, Prof Iwe said they were in Tetfund to solicit its assistance to boost the Agribusiness Incubation Centre by way of equipping it as well as sending lecturers to it for training, pointing out that the ABIC in MOUAU has received overwhelming endorsement from its catchment areas with many clamouring for its services.
He noted that although the federal government built the centre, it was yet to equip it optimally, thus necessitating the plea for assistance.
Prof Iwe disclosed that MOUAU ABIC has the best staff one could find in the field, saying that the Director, Dr Philips Nto, a former Commissioner and former Provost of Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu, has the vast administrative and technical experience to lead the centre offer first class services to stakeholders.
He commended the management of Tetfund for its doggedness in transforming the infrastructural landscape in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria as well as upgrading the academic staff.
Among those who accompanied the Vice Chancellor for the visit are Deputy vice Chancellor academics, Prof udo Herbert; deputy vice Chancellor, administration prof Elechi Asawalam; Registrar, Dr (mrs ) Nkeiru Mbanasor ;University Librarian Dr Isaac Ogbonna; Agribusiness Incubation Centre Dr Director Philips Nto.
