Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has signed into law a bill renaming and restructuring the state’s agricultural institution to align with international best practices and strengthen agricultural education.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday, July 14, by Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.
Okpebholo assented to the bill when he received the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Blessing Agbebaku, on a courtesy visit to Government House, Benin City.
Under the new law, the institution will now be known as the Edo State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology.
The rebranded institution will operate across three campuses, with Iguoriakhi serving as the main campus for Agricultural Technology, Uromi focusing on Forestry, and Agenebode specialising in Aquaculture.
Speaking before the governor signed the bill into law, Agbebaku said the amendment would align the institution with international best practices and improve the quality of students’ training.
He said the changes would equip students with practical and innovative agricultural skills needed to boost food sufficiency.
According to him, “We are here to present to you the College of Agriculture bill that the House has just passed.
“Agriculture has gone scientific, and we decided to amend the bill so that we can drive agriculture scientifically. The institution was formerly known as the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, but following your directive, it will now be called the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology because agriculture has become science-driven.”
In his remarks, Governor Okpebholo described the signing of the bill as the beginning of a new era for the institution and Edo State.
“Today marks a new dawn for the Edo State College of Agriculture. The amended law will bring significant improvements to the institution, and the state will benefit greatly from this development.
“These changes will strengthen students’ capacity and come at a time when states are expected to improve food production and meet local consumption needs.
“We want Edo State to produce at least 95 per cent of what we consume and use agriculture to increase our Internally Generated Revenue.
“This law will also create employment opportunities for our youths through livestock production and agricultural husbandry.
“The sector will expose young people to livestock breeding, care and management for the production of meat, milk, fibre and eggs,” the governor said.
