Okonjo-Iweala to inaugurate Unilorin oil palm plantation

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will on Thursday inaugurate the oil palm plantation of the University of Ilorin.

A statement  on Sunday by Unilorin's  Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, said  the plantation project, whose first phase is planned to cover about 1,000 hectares of land, would enhance the university's three-pronged mandate of teaching, research and community service.

He stated that it would also provide training and laboratory facilities for students in the Faculties of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences as well as the Departments of Forestry, Plant Biology and other related disciplines.

According to him, at maturity, the plantation would also be a good source of internally generated revenue for the institution.

He said already, high breed oil palm seedlings had been procured from the National Institute for Oil-Palm Research, Benin City, Edo State to ensure the successful take-off and ultimate success of the project.

Akogun added that the university management would distribute the much-awaited PC Tablets, from which all the 100 Level students of the institution would benefit.

He stated that the PC tablet, which is one of the initiatives of Unilorin's  Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, would enhance learning.