Governor Monday Okpebholo on Tuesday signed into law the bill renaming and restructuring the Edo State School of Agriculture, expressing optimism that the new legislation would position the state to produce at least 95 per cent of the food consumed by its people while boosting internally generated revenue through agriculture.
The new law changes the institution’s name to Edo State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology and reorganises its operations across three campuses.
Under the new structure, Iguoriakhi will serve as the main campus for Agricultural Technology, Uromi will specialise in Forestry, while Agenebode will focus on Aquaculture.
The governor signed the bill after receiving the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, at Government House, Benin City.
Speaking after assenting to the bill, Okpebholo described the legislation as a major step towards transforming the state’s agricultural sector. He said: “Today is a new dawn for Edo State College of Agriculture. The amended law will bring about a lot of improvement in the school and the state will benefit from this development.”
The governor expressed confidence that the institution would drive the state’s agricultural revolution, saying: “We will produce at least 95 per cent of what we consume as a people. We want to use agriculture to increase our Internally Generated Revenue.”
He added: “This present law will help us create job opportunities for our teeming youths in terms of livestock rearing and agricultural husbandry.
This sector will educate our youths to focus on the breeding, care and daily management of livestock to produce meat, milk, fibre and eggs.”
Earlier, Agbebaku said the amendment became necessary to align the institution with international best practices and equip students with practical and innovative agricultural skills.
According to him, “Agriculture has gone scientific. We decided to re-amend the bill so that we can push agriculture into the system scientifically. The bill was first named College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, but it has now been amended by your instruction to be called College of Agriculture, Science and Technology because agriculture has gone scientific.”
He said the restructuring would strengthen training, innovation and research in agriculture, while preparing graduates with the practical skills needed to enhance food sufficiency and support the state’s economic development.
