Include us in TETFund scheme — Colleges of Agriculture

The Federal Colleges of Agriculture have appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria, for inclusion in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) scheme for the rapid development of the institutions in the country.

Mr Olufemi Owolabi, the Registrar, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, made the appeal while speaking in Akure, Ondo state Nigeria.

Owolabi, who described the college as a monotechnic, said it has become necessary for the government to capture colleges of agriculture in the scheme to function well in the area of facilities and development.

According to him, the colleges are doing things from the meagre funds given to them as subvention.

“Colleges of Agriculture are not been funded as expected by the government and we are yet to develop like other institutions.
‘We have been praying that government should do something because if you look around, there is not enough facilities and development. As a monotechnic institution, we are not captured in the TETFund scheme which would have helped us a lot, because we also do vocational training for farmers in the state,” he said.

Listing other challenges faced by the college, Owolabi explained that it had over the years contended with encroachment by land grabbers.

He also called on government to adequately fund the institution to achieve its mandate and assist in boosting food security in its host state and county at large.

The registrar disclosed that in order to maintain academic excellence in the institution, the authorities recently suspended and expelled 19 students.

He explained that the action followed the outcome of the report of the student’s displinary committee which indicted the students of examination malpractice and other vices.

Owolabi, who said that the college followed the students handbook and meted out appropriate sanctions including suspension and expulsion.

He said that the college had not experienced any issue of cultism since its establishment in 1957.

The registrar further said that the disciplinary measures against erring students was regular to serve as deterrents and prevent social vices and infractions.

Owolabi said that the students population had increased from 300 when it got autonomy in 1991 from University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, to over 900.

NAN / Foluke Ibitomi