The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), has secured a ₦1 billion grant from the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen its agricultural commercial farming operations and drive food security across the country.
The intervention, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was announced through the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono. The funding is part of the 2025 Special Intervention Programme for Agricultural Commercial Farms, designed to promote large-scale farming and enhance food production capacity in Nigeria.
In a statement, FUTA’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, expressed appreciation to the President and TETFund for the gesture, describing it as a timely boost for the university’s agricultural drive. She assured that the fund would be judiciously used to expand the university’s farming infrastructure and research output.
“We are grateful to President Tinubu and TETFund for their confidence in FUTA. I can assure the President that we shall deliver and not disappoint him. The fund shall be judiciously utilised for the purpose it is meant for,” Professor Oladiji said.
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Over the years, FUTA has made notable strides in integrating research, training, and agricultural production through its commercial farm. The university currently produces high-yield F1 hybrid varieties of crops such as bell peppers and tomatoes, developed within its Teaching and Research Farm. These crop varieties have shown improved resistance to pests and diseases while offering higher productivity.
With the new ₦1 billion allocation, the university plans to expand its greenhouses, upgrade its palm plantation, and scale up commercial-level production of vegetables and other cash crops. The project also aims to foster collaboration between academia and the agricultural industry, linking scientific innovation to practical, market-driven farming outcomes.
The Federal Government’s move is part of a broader effort to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape by supporting institutions capable of bridging the gap between research and commercial agriculture. The initiative aligns with the administration’s vision of achieving national food security and empowering the next generation of farmers.
Observers believe the funding will position FUTA as a model for other universities seeking to develop self-sustaining agricultural enterprises while contributing to Nigeria’s broader economic diversification agenda.
