MOUAU Vice-Chancellor Allocates ₦20 Million, 16 Hectares to Boost Cassava Production and Food Security Drive

The Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Professor Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, has approved ₦20 million funding alongside the allocation of 16 hectares of farmland for large-scale agricultural production aimed at strengthening food security and expanding the university’s agricultural impact.

She made the disclosure during a media chat marking her first 100 days in office, outlining new interventions targeted at boosting cassava production, improving crop yields, and advancing the institution’s mandate as a federal university of agriculture.

According to her, 10 hectares of land have been allocated to the Centre of Excellence for Root Crop Research and Development (CERCORD) for the cultivation of cassava, maize, and other staple crops during the 2026 farming season. In addition, ₦20 million has been released to support the immediate implementation of the project.

She further announced the allocation of an additional 6 hectares to the University Farms Directorate for expanded cassava cultivation, describing the initiative as part of a coordinated institutional strategy to scale up food production and agricultural innovation.

Prof. Akanwa stated that the intervention is designed to directly respond to rising concerns around hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, particularly within host communities and surrounding regions.

“We must play the key role to dismantle the mounting trends of hunger, acute food insecurity and malnutrition in the host communities and beyond,” she said.

She explained that the twin farm initiatives are expected to significantly increase food output, improve affordability of agricultural produce, stimulate value-chain development, and create employment opportunities for youths in nearby communities.

The Vice-Chancellor also noted that the projects would enhance the university’s internally generated revenue (IGR) while reinforcing MOUAU’s position as a leading centre for agricultural innovation and food system development in Nigeria.

The initiative forms part of a broader institutional push to align academic research with practical agricultural production, with a focus on sustainability, commercial viability, and national food security outcomes.