Students from the Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New Bussa, Niger State, have applauded the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for his commitment to agribusiness development.
The commendation was given during an educational visit to the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub in Oyo.
The group, comprising 103 students across ND2, HND1, and HND2 levels in Agricultural Technology, Agricultural Business Management, Agricultural Extension Management, Fisheries Technology, and Crop Protection Technology, was accompanied by five staff of the college.
The students were received by Mr. Popoola Olushola, the Regional Manager of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Oyo Region; Mr. Ademola Adeniyi, the Community Relations Officer; and Mr. Badmus Emmanuel, Facility Manager for Fashola, ATC.
Popoola, who oversees all OYSADA facilities in Oyo including OYSADA offices in Oyo and the Awe-IITA/Oyo State Government Incubation Park Center, led the students through a comprehensive tour of the hub’s key facilities.
This provided them with a first-hand view of the state’s agribusiness investments and environment.
The students, in their separate reactions, “applauded Oyo state government under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde for creating enabling environment for cluster of investors they met at the facility.”
They also “expressed their satisfactions over the level at which the investors are enjoying returns on their investment in agribusiness with ease,” and described the Fashola Agribusiness Industrial Hub as “one of its kind in the country, and Africa at large.”
The visit was part of the college’s academic requirements.
According to Dr. Rosemary Oladosu-Ajayi, Chairperson of the Field Trips and Excursion Committee, the Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology runs National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programs, and “one of the basic National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) requirements for all students in the program is a scheduled field and industrial experience which is aimed at expanding the students’ horizon in their field of study.”
Dr. Oladosu-Ajayi, reacting during the visit, also “expressed optimism that the educational visit will improve the learning of the students.”
Among the facilities toured were AATF Factory, Brown Hill Factory, Friesland Campina WAMCO Dairy Company, and several other agribusiness establishments operating within the hub.