Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has announced the upgrade of Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, to a full-fledged University of Agriculture, with an additional campus to be located in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area.
The governor made this known on Saturday during the official flag-off of the free distribution of 40,000 bags of fertiliser and other farming inputs to over 60,000 registered farmers in the state.
The event took place at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.
According to Mbah, the new University of Agriculture will serve as a hub for training the next generation of agricultural scientists, entrepreneurs and innovators, aimed at boosting food production and agricultural research in the state and beyond.
He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to establishing a Special Agro-Processing Zone to drive the processing, packaging, and export of value-added agricultural products.
“Our goal is to position Enugu as a major exporter of agricultural produce. This will begin with the launch of a pilot agricultural industrial hub and three agricultural transformation centres, which will catalyze agro-processing, job creation, and rural development,” Mbah stated.
The governor revealed that the state has already received 102 tractors, with an additional 98 expected soon.
Furthermore, 800 tractors are to be assembled locally at the Nortra Assembling Plant in Enugu to support farmers’ access to mechanized agriculture.
Highlighting the historical importance of agriculture, Mbah said, “Agriculture was the economic backbone of the old Eastern Region. Our investment in this sector is central to our vision of growing Enugu’s economy to $30 billion and eliminating poverty. Farming today requires professionalism and modern insights.”
Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr. Patrick Ubru, described the event as a demonstration of the governor’s unwavering commitment to revitalizing rural communities and positioning agriculture as a driver of inclusive economic growth.
“The agricultural sector in Enugu has never had it this good,” Ubru noted.
Similarly, Alhaji Friday Sani-Nnaji, Consultant to the Enugu Farm Estate, and Ejike Eze, Chairman of the State House Committee on Agriculture, lauded the governor’s vision and achievements. They assured residents that Enugu would attain full food security by 2026.
In addition to the fertilisers, the state government distributed over 100 tractors and various other farm inputs to support the state’s registered farmers.
