Nigeria’s maiden National Agricultural Land Development Authority Institute (NALDA) of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship is set to commence operations in September.
The Executive Secretary of NALDA, Paul Ikonne, disclosed the information to journalists on Friday, stating that the institute would be established in the nation’s six geopolitical zones, starting from Aba, Abia State.
Giving details about the Aba facility, Ikonne disclosed that the campus has been fully equipped with the relevant facilities to build a formidable agribusiness school.
The facility, he said, has a completed 600-capacity student sports complex, two administrative blocks, libraries and laboratories, and a clinic among others.
He said, “We came up with NALDA Institute of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship that has the approval of Mr. President. And today, that school is taking off in September.
“We have students that are going to start in September. The one in Abia is fully ready and commencing the 2024/2025 academic session this September.
“The one in Ogun is 99 per cent to completion and they will commence academic session by next year. The institute in Katsina is 89 per cent complete.
“So, these are projects that we initiated with the idea and knowledge that if we don’t catch them young into agriculture, agricultural production and agribusiness, we will lose farmers as the current generation of farmers is ageing and retiring.”
Ikonne explained that establishing the institute across the nation would support the growth and development of agribusiness in the country, transforming agriculture into a modern and appealing career path for the youth.
According to him, the NALDA aims to achieve this through a combination of practical training, specialised curriculum, cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurial education in the field of agribusiness and agronomic practices.
Ikonne further noted that the NALDA Institute of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship would commence from the primary to secondary to the Ordinary National Diploma.