Monday, 14th June 2021: The Provost and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal College of Animal Health & Production Technology, (FCAH&PT), Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Dr Adekoya Olatunde Owosibo, has been commended for approving the Agricultural Research Outreach Centres, (AROC)’s visits to some selected schools in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
The Principal, Wesley College of Science, Elekuro, Ibadan, Mr S. O Oladokun, gave the commendation during a tour by the Agricultural Research Outreach Centre of two selected science schools in Ibadan, Oyo state in which his school was included.
Oladokun was also full of appreciation to the team of experts in agricultural extension who visited the school to motivate and educate the students of school on the importance and gains of choosing agriculture as a chosen profession.
The Principal said he was happy that Wesley College of Science, Ibadan was part of the College of Extension Services’ programmes of visit to achieve part of its mandates which is extending agricultural research breakthroughs of the College to its neighbouring environment and creating awareness of the College’s activities as well as impacting her immediate environment on agriculture and other relevant areas, amongst others.
Also while in the Wesley College, Elekuro, Ibadan, the team inaugurated the Young Farmers’ Club as part of the activities of catching them young.
A total of 245 students participated during the visit to Wesley College of Science, Ibadan. In all, four other staff of the Wesley College of Science, Ibadan joined the Principal, Mr S. Oladokun, in welcoming the team to the school. They included the HOD of agriculture in the school, Mr Babalola I.A.; Mr Tayo O. S.; Mr Adebayo D. G. and Miss Oladapo K. D.
AROC was also at the Alayande School of Science in Ibadan and the turn out and the enthusiasm of the students to receive the team made the event a unique one and it was a great outing, after all.
The students were highly motivated towards agriculture and teachers were receptive and coordinated activities very well. The school management also appreciated the team for the visit and the Federal College of Animal Health & Production Technology for the initiative.
Meanwhile, the Director of Extension Services, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology Ibadan, Dr Grace Oyinlola Alonge, used the opportunities of the visits to the two adopted schools to educate the participants about what extension services stands for and the importance of according agriculture the pride of place in the nation’s secondary schools.
Dr Alonge explained that under the Agricultural Research Outreach Centres’ programme, they have schools and villages that have been adopted for regular visit to create awareness and among the students concerning the activities of the College and agricultural extension programmes.
She said the challenges of the Agricultural Research system in Nigeria necessitated the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, (ARCN), to setup the Agricultural Research Outreach centres, (AROC).
Dr Alonge explained that the National Agricultural Research Institutes, (NARIs), and the Federal Colleges of Agriculture, (FCAs) under the ARCN are the vehicles through which AROC activities of interacting and developing technologies that meet the needs of the Farmers in their various Agro-climatic conditions are achieved.
She itemized the purpose of AROCs in secondary schools to include: to catch the attention of young boys and girls early into agriculture; to help young boys and girls develop ideals for better Farming, home making, rural community development and informal training in agriculture; To provide avenue for social and recreational activities for young boys and girls making them better citizens and practice thrift and to encourage agricultural vocational trainings for young boys and girls as well as to encourage the students to pick up various aspects of agriculture as a profession without coarse. Others includes, to illustrate new youth agricultural pathways; to help redesign and accommodate contemporary social and economic changes in the society; to float and or strengthen students Agri-business clubs; to inculcate in the young boys and girls the culture of hardwork and to create awareness in youths about growing wealth to protect their future.
Creation and establishment of YFC activities in the schools and establishment of agricultural demonstration plots in the adopted schools such as poultry, fishery and crop productions are part of the method of carrying out AROCs in secondary schools.
