FUTA Receives N1 Billion Federal Government Special Intervention for Agricultural Commercial Farm

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a ₦1 billion Special Intervention Fund for the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) to support the development of its Agricultural Commercial Farm.

The approval, conveyed by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, followed the ratification of the 2025 intervention budget by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

In a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, Arc. Echono stated:

“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 an Agricultural Commercial Farm in your institution. Accordingly, I hereby convey the allocation of the sum of One Billion Naira (₦1,000,000,000.00) only for Agricultural Commercial Farm.”

Reacting to the development, Professor Oladiji expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for recognizing FUTA’s leadership in agricultural innovation and national food security efforts.

She said, “This allocation is a further testament to FUTA’s relevance in tackling food insecurity. The university has continued to provide sustainable solutions to agricultural challenges in the country.”

Highlighting some of the university’s ongoing initiatives, the Vice-Chancellor revealed that FUTA’s Vegetable Production Centre is ready to mentor farmers on cultivating and nurturing the F1 species of bell pepper and tomato—a high-yield hybrid propagated at the university’s Teaching and Research Farm.

She added that the university has doubled its palm tree plantation, and construction of additional greenhouses is already underway to expand production capacity.

According to her, “This fund will add great impetus to our commercial farming activities for the benefit of the nation. I can assure Mr. President that we shall deliver and not disappoint him. The fund shall be judiciously utilized for the purpose it is meant for.”

The intervention marks another significant milestone in FUTA’s drive to strengthen its agricultural research and commercialization capacity, aligning with national efforts to achieve food sufficiency and economic diversification.