In a move that underscores the growing collaboration between academia and government towards agricultural innovation, the Commissioner for Livestock Development in Kwara State, Hon. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, paid a courtesy visit to TAU on a strategic engagement to explore possible partnership avenues in agri-tech development.
During the visit, Hon. Oloruntoyosi commended the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Francisca Oladipo, for her visionary leadership and affirmed the Ministry’s readiness to partner with the university and the Ilorin Innovation Hub on a project that aligns with the state’s agricultural development agenda. “TAU is a university of excellence and a perfect match for this initiative,” she said. “We are ready to start strong, using TAU as the base and leveraging the Ilorin Innovation Hub to drive innovation in agro-tech. The vision is clear, and we’re committed to making it a reality.”
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Francisca Oladipo, provided context on the broader framework of the initiative, drawing attention to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Village Initiative, a global programme designed to promote collaboration across the agriculture value chain with a focus on food security. “This initiative has seen success in Rwanda and Cameroon, and Nigeria is next in line. Beyond agriculture, this project is about education and empowerment. We see opportunities to involve our students actively, stimulate their interest in learning, and even develop certification programmes in relevant fields such as logistics, agri-monitoring, and digital agriculture.”
Reflecting on the institution’s journey and the self-sufficiency of the Oko community, the Founder of the University, Dr. (Engr.) Johnson Adewumi, lauded the state government’s interest in agricultural development, describing TAU and the Oko community as fertile grounds for such innovation. “The level to which you develop land reflects the prosperity you’ll achieve,” Dr. Adewumi stated. “With government support and innovative leadership, we can reposition agriculture as a productive and attractive sector for young people.”
Adding to the conversation, the Managing Director of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, Mr. Temi Kolawole, affirmed the alignment of the project with the core focus of the hub. “Agri-tech has always been a key interest area for us. In fact, the first output from the Hub was in agriculture,” he shared. “We are at the full launch phase of our programmes, and collaborating with a forward-thinking institution like TAU is exactly the kind of synergy we need to achieve impact.”
The visit concluded with a guided tour led by the Director of Works and Physical Planning, Engr. Lanre Ilesanmi, to the university’s farmland and cattle ranch, which spans several acres of thriving farmland cultivated with various crops, including watermelon, tomatoes, onions, beans, spinach, and different species of pepper and vegetables.
Also present were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock Development, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed; members of the University Management; TAU’s agro-innovation team, and other esteemed stakeholders.
This engagement marks a promising step toward positioning Thomas Adewumi University as a model institution for agricultural innovation, entrepreneurship, and public-private sector collaboration in Kwara State and beyond.
