FEDPOFFA Management Signs MoU with NALDA On Mechanized Farming
… Rector, Dr. Kadiri hails FG’s back-to-farm initiative
In a significant stride towards sustainable agricultural practices to boost food security and increase its Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) drive, the management of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, under the visionary leadership of Engr. Dr. Kadiri Kamoru Oluwatoyin, FNSE, on Monday, April 14, 2025 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NALDA during which they agreed to pool resources and expertise together to convert the Polytechnic’s dormant arable land into an integrated farm estate, through strategic partnerships poised to unlock new opportunities for a thriving agro-industrial ecosystem.
The above initiative was revealed when the Rector, represented by the Registrar & Secretary to the Governing Council, Mr. G.O. Soko paid a working visit to the NALDA Headquarters Abuja. He was accompanied by the Head of Expenditure, Bursary Unit, Mr. F.O. Dogbo
Justifying the partnership, the Rector, who spoke through the Registrar, Mr. G.O. Soko, expressed optimism with the pact between the two bodies which brings together the expertise of both institutions in key areas such as land clearing, mechanization, and the establishment of large-scale integrated farm estate in the Polytechnic community. He described the signing as a milestone achievement whilst expressing his confidence that it is a step in the right direction.
Echoing similar sentiments, the Executive Secretary of NALDA, Mr. Cornelius Adebayo, represented by the Head of Legal, NALDA, Barrister Bello Abdulmalik, applauded the FEDPOFFA Management for conceiving the bold initiative, promising that the agency would provide technical support, asset items, training and inputs to support the Rector’s vision where agriculture reigns supreme. He emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving agricultural transformation on a large scale in line with NALDA’s mandate of achieving food security.
The Public Relations Unit reports that the overarching objective of the partnership is to clear and utilise the massive uncultivated lands in the Polytechnic community for agricultural research and demonstration purposes through a combination of practical training for Agric-Tech students, specialized curriculum, cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurial education. To push the agreement into real action, NALDA’s part of the bargain is to bring all that is required such as tractors for land clearing and preparation, personnel, planters and trans-planters, fertilizers and seeds, and the donations of hectares of arable lands to NALDA for staff and students engagement in agribusiness. Information gathered by our correspondent revealed that the agreement is going to last for ten years and within that period, the produce from the farms would have offset the expenses and recoup the investment incurred by NALDA. The Rector, Engr. Dr. Kadiri is spearheading the initiative aimed at revitalising the Agricultural landscape of the Polytechnic with the capacity to engage over 2000 students and participating farmers from neighbouring communities directly. The goal is to unlock new opportunities in sustainable farming, land development, food security, and ultimately, to diversify the Polytechnic sources of funding to boost Internally generated revenue. In a contagious enthusiasm for the future, the Rector is inviting development partners and the Nation at large to keep their eyes on the Federal Polytechnic Offa (FEDPOFFA), as the Polytechnic will have great success stories to tell and milestones to tick off its books in the coming years.
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