Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Yet to Receive N10 Billion Take-off Grant
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Yet to Receive N10 Billion Take-off Grant, Appeals to Government for Assistance
Mary Nwaeze 
In a surprising revelation, the Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof Maduebibisi Iwe, announced during the university's 11th convocation ceremony that they are yet to receive a recommended N10 billion grant earmarked for its take-off. The grant was proposed by the 2016-2020 Visitation Panel to the university.
During his welcome address, Prof Iwe appealed to the Hon Minister of Agriculture to assist in expediting the release of the funds for the university's development. He expressed gratitude to the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Muhammad Abubakar, for his efforts in advocating for the release of the take-off grant to the Ministry of Finance.
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The Vice Chancellor emphasized that the university, established to educate students in agriculture and related subjects, including management sciences relevant to agriculture, is in dire need of the funds to fulfill its mission.
Furthermore, Prof Iwe called on the government to relist five courses in the College of Management Sciences that were delisted five years ago. He cited the last Visitation Panel's report, which highlighted the need to revisit the delisting issue and urged the National Universities Commission to relist the courses.
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"We appeal that the government favorably attends to this position of the White Paper in the interest of the teeming population of young Nigerians who want to study these courses in our university," remarked the Vice Chancellor.
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This development raises concerns about the financial support crucial for the university's growth and underscores the importance of government intervention to ensure the fulfillment of educational goals and the provision of quality education in agricultural and allied disciplines.
