Akure, Ondo State — The Federal Government has allocated ₦1 billion to the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) to expand its agricultural commercial farm operations under the 2025 Special Intervention Programme for Agricultural Commercial Farms approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The approval was conveyed to the university through a letter signed by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, and addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji.
“Further to the approval of the year 2025 intervention budget by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and in line with the provisions of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act 2011, I write to inform you that your institution has been allocated a special intervention for Agricultural Commercial Farm,” the letter stated.
“Accordingly, I hereby convey the allocation of the sum of One Billion Naira (₦1,000,000,000.00) only for Agricultural Commercial Farm.”
According to TETFund, the intervention is part of the government’s renewed effort to strengthen research-driven agriculture and promote food sufficiency through Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
FUTA Reacts
Reacting to the development, Vice Chancellor Professor Adenike Oladiji expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the allocation, describing it as a “major boost” to FUTA’s contributions to agricultural innovation and national food security.
“This allocation is a further testament to FUTA’s relevance in tackling food insecurity. FUTA is pulling its weight in providing solutions to the nation’s food challenges,” she said.
Professor Oladiji noted that FUTA’s vegetable production center is already working with local farmers to cultivate the university-developed F1 species of bell pepper and tomatoes, which outperform traditional varieties in yield, pest resistance, and shelf life.
She added that the university had doubled the number of trees in its palm plantation, while the construction of additional greenhouses was ongoing.
“This fund will add a fillip to our commercial farming activities for the benefit of the country. I can assure the President that we shall deliver and not disappoint him. The fund shall be judiciously utilized for the purpose it is meant for,” Professor Oladiji affirmed.
Background
The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) established its commercial farm project as part of its mission to bridge the gap between academic research and practical agricultural application. The initiative serves as both a teaching and research hub and a commercial production center, advancing innovations that directly impact local farming communities.
Among the university’s most notable breakthroughs is the development of the F1 hybrid bell pepper and tomato species, which have proven to deliver higher yields, better disease resistance, and longer shelf life than conventional varieties.
The new ₦1 billion intervention is expected to significantly enhance FUTA’s capacity to expand production, strengthen research infrastructure, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.
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