From Oluseye Eye, ibadan
Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State have been awarded honorary doctorates from Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo City, Oyo State.
The honorary degree will be awarded to each member of the trio on Friday, December 9, 2022, during the grand finale of the university’s 14th call, which will begin on Thursday of this week.
ACU Vice Chancellor Prof. Abiodun Adebayo made the revelation during a press conference on the institution’s campus ahead of the university’s 14th convocation ceremony. A total of 1,547 undergraduates would be admitted to the first degree, among whom 41 students earned first class honours. In addition, 583 students will earn master’s degrees and 34 will earn doctoral degrees.
He explained that the three honorees are serving Governors, have contributed immensely to the progress of the country and are proud members of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), which owns the citadel of learning.
Adebayo further stated that the university has been working day and night to complement the efforts of the federal and state governments to guarantee food security, eradicate hunger and confront poverty in the country. He added that the institution has established an agro-allied company-Ajayi Crowther University (ACU) Seed Company, for the production of high-yield seeds and seedlings.
The company, he said, is the first of its kind in the history of Nigerian universities, adding that ACU is partnering with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on the project, saying : “Unquestionably, agriculture and its businesses are high priority issues for us at this great university. This is because just as agriculture is a pillar of the nation’s economy, it is also an important sector that ensures the livelihood of life.
“The importance of food for life and human life cannot be overstated, and many plants that give us food grow through seeds. Our efforts in this regard have yielded good results because at this time the ACU seed company has been incorporated by the Corporate Affairs Commission”.
Responding to journalists’ questions during the press conference, Adebayo urged the Federal Government to intensify its efforts aimed at providing adequate security for the lives and property of Nigerians, in different parts of the country for farmers who have abandoned their farms as a result. of insecurity to return to agriculture and imbue the interests of Nigerians in agriculture to achieve food security.
He indicated that the university planted 50 hectares of corn, which would be sold to the public. He added that the maize is a special variety that is fortified with vitamin A. Farmers from all over Oyo State, he said, were invited to a workshop at the institution and were amazed at what they saw with the maize.