COOU Signs PPP Deal with SARBJJACK FARMS to Expand Plantain and Pineapple Production for Food Security

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University has entered into a strategic agricultural partnership with SARBJJACK FARMS through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening food security and advancing plantation-based agribusiness within the university environment.

The agreement, formalised on May 5, 2026, establishes a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) focused on the development of F1 hybrid plantain and Smooth Cayenne pineapple plantations within the university community.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mr. Pat Nwume, representative of SARBJJACK FARMS, described the initiative as both timely and development-oriented. He confirmed that preliminary groundwork has already commenced, including land preparation activities such as ploughing, and expressed confidence in the long-term benefits of the collaboration for both the university and the wider economy.

On the university’s side, Vice-Chancellor Kate Azuka Omenugha described the partnership as a practical step toward integrating academic learning with real-world agricultural production.

She emphasized that the initiative aligns with the institution’s broader goal of bridging theory and practice, particularly for students in the Faculty of Agriculture. She also noted that the Dean of Agriculture was deliberately engaged in the process to ensure that the faculty leverages the project for innovation, research, and applied learning outcomes.

The Vice-Chancellor further linked the project to global development priorities, referencing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on Zero Hunger, and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to contributing to national food security through strategic collaborations.

The Dean of Agriculture and other academic stakeholders are expected to play a key role in integrating the plantation project into teaching, research, and student field training programmes.

The COOU–SARBJJACK FARMS partnership is projected to enhance hands-on agricultural training, improve research capacity in crop production systems, and promote sustainable farming practices.

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University noted that the initiative positions the institution as an active contributor to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda, particularly in the area of commercial crop production and food system resilience.