The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA Professor Adenike Oladiji, has reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to combating food insecurity through innovative agricultural initiatives, research advancement, and modern farming technology. Speaking during a tour of major projects across the university as part of activities marking her fourth anniversary in office on Friday, 22nd May, 2026, the Vice-Chancellor said the institution was strategically positioning itself for large-scale agricultural production and possible export-driven operations.
She said FUTA has completed the construction of new Green House structures and they are already being deployed for continuation of specialized farming. The 11 New structures of 5 by 30 metres were built with reinforced imported steel ,locally assembled and are being irrigated using locally designed and installed Drip system. Each of the Green Houses which are already in use contain 550 to 600 plants for Bell pepper and Habanero pepper production. The supervisory team for the project is Led by Professor Ayo Olalusi and supported by Professor Kehinde Jaiyeoba with Professor Jav Olumurewa alongside some of their students.
Professor Oladiji explained that FUTA’s growing investments in agriculture were aimed at providing practical solutions to national food challenges while also creating opportunities for skill acquisition and economic growth. She disclosed that the university had expanded its agricultural facilities with the support of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), particularly in the areas of poultry production, feed milling, and greenhouse farming.
She praised the effort of the Federal Government for including FUTA on the list of beneficiaries of the N1Billion agriculture grant for institutions which she noted was responsible for the agricultural boost in FUTA.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the university’s greenhouse initiative, describing it as a locally developed innovation capable of supporting year-round cultivation of crops such as tomatoes and peppers irrespective of seasonal limitations. She said local fabrication of the greenhouse within the confines of the University was done to make them better adaptable to the prevailing conditions in the country and give researchers and students hands on experience.
She added that students from FUTA and other universities who come on industrial attachment are actively involved in the projects as part of efforts to expose them to practical agricultural entrepreneurship and value-added production processes. She stated that the institution’s long-term plan was to scale up commercial farming activities to support food supply within the host community and create opportunities for export.
Professor Olalusi while conducting the Vice Chancellor and members of her entourage round the facility , described the F1 Bell pepper as an early ripening hybrid variety with a bushy plant that does not require staking. He said the advantageous features include a high level of resistance to diseases, vigorous and strong plant, sweet flavor, and the fruit size is about 10-11cm width by 11-12 cm length, while it weighs between 250-280g. Professor Olalusi added that the uniqueness of the F1 Bell pepper is that it can only be propagated in a greenhouse and FUTA is willing to take on the responsibility of guiding interested individuals and farmers through the process of greenhouse cultivation either on a small scale or large-scale basis. He said the University would however continue the cultivation in its greenhouse to make the pepper available for its immediate environment and would be ready to explore partnership for large scale production that could translate into major revenue generating stream for FUTA and potential partners.
The Vice Chancellor said apart from greenhouse farming , FUTA is also making significant progress in poultry production. She said the revitalised poultry section now operates with improved technology and modern systems that enhance productivity and efficiency stating that the poultry section of the livestock farm had recently been reactivated for enhanced egg production and subsequently increased respectively with maximum success rate, hence the new mandate to crop 4160 more layers in the new modern automated battery cages recently purchased and installed in the teaching and research farm of the University. She disclosed that the poultry feed is also mainly produced by FUTA.
Professor Oladiji further inspected several infrastructural projects on campus, including the remodeled Akindeko Hostel, which now has a provision of 653 bed spaces in 145 rooms across 8 blocks, a common room, a reading room and purpose built mini mart. She led the tour to the Public Health Laboratory Museum remodeled for research, learning and documentation while noting that plans were on the way to commence the school of nursing laboratory, as an addition to that of the Medical Laboratory Science which is already functional. Members of her entourage were also conducted to the newly purpose built guest chalets constructed to provide improved accommodation for visiting academics and researchers.
She noted that some of the projects were financed through TETFund interventions, others through internally generated revenue, and support from individuals and stakeholders within the Akure community.
Reiterating the university’s developmental vision, the Vice-Chancellor stressed that FUTA would continue to play a significant role in advancing agricultural innovation and national development.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.