The N600 million integrated poultry farm of the University of Ilorin, which is located at Amoyo in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara, will be commission on July 21.
The loan was granted to the institution by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to establish a commercial poultry farm to boost the production of eggs and chicken.
A press statement by the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, quoted the Chairman, Steering Committee of the Poultry Farm project, Prof. Mikhail Buhari, as saying that the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, is expected to commission the ground-breaking project.
Prof Buhari, who is also the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor said that the event, would be hosted by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Mallam Abidu Rafindadi Yazidu,OON; and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sulyman Abdulkareem.
According to him, also expected to grace the event are dignitaries from all walks of life including the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Chief Executives of sister institutions of higher learning and prominent traditional rulers from across the State.
While commending the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, for pursuing the project and the management of the Bank for providing the enabling funds in form of a loan running into N600 million to the University, Prof Buhari described the farm project as “a game changer” in the annals of creativity in ivory towers leadership in Nigeria.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor added that the project,which is a novel one, is polishing the alluring image of the University among its peers across and beyond Nigeria.
Bihari who described the project as a success story in view of the positive changes it has brought to the people of the host community added that it has also transformed the and the transformed the sleepy region into a busy and economically viable one.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor said that the farm has started with semi-automated production of chicks and its products.
He added that the farm, which kicked off on June 26, has in stock over 25,000 broilers and 17,000 layers and that the products of the farm would be on its way to anticipated distributors by Sunday, July 3.
Buhari explained that the products of the farm will reduce importation and close the existing demand and supply gap of eggs and allied poultry products.
He added that, apart from the insurance on the farm, well trained experts are also on it to perpetuate its successes.
Buhari added that the University was bound to make a lot of money from the farm as everything generated from it, including waste materials, would be sold towards earning more money, which would boost the institution’s internally generated revenue.
The foremost academic, who was accompanied to the studio by Prof Alfred Adegoke, said that the project is engaging relatively huge number of workers as he said that over 50 workers who were carefully recruited are already earning their livelihood on the farm while over 200 others are indirectly engaged.
Buhari added that each of the workers was mandated to work at their maximum best as they would be given targets, which must be made or shown the way out.
Buhari, who said that the farm was located at the Southwestern part of the University to spread development and prevent the institution’s land from being encroached, assured members of the University community that they would also be opportuned to buy the products of the farm.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor encouraged staff, students and members of the host community to see the farm project as theirs and ensure its protection from vandalism for the benefit of all.
