Engineer Sule Commends Buhari For The Establishment Of Agric Equipment, Machinery Devt Institute In Lafia
Rabiu Omaku
Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the citing of Agric Equipment, Machinery Development Institute in Lafia, The Nasarawa State capital.
Governor Abdullahi Sule gave the commendation when the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Professor Sani Haruna paid him a visit at the Government House while delivering President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval letter establishing the institute, to the Nasarawa State Governor on Friday.
It could be recalled that, earlier on, Governor Abdullahi Sule has put in a request at the presidency, seeking for the setting up of a NASENI institute in Lafia requesting for the endorsement of the NEC,
Governor Sule applauded the President for giving the approval for the establishment of the agricultural development institute in Lafia, the state capital.
Engineer Sule said the institute is coming at no better time, especially with Nasarawa State being mostly agrarian, pointing out that citing the institute in Nasarawa State will bring much-needed ease to farmers.
He reeled out poor yield, unavailability of needed equipment, lack of proper enlightenment on farming techniques, poor harvest.
Engineer Sule said locating the institute in Lafia, which is the state capital will serve as big commercial agricultural enterprises operating in the state, especially, Dangote Group in Awe, Olams in Doma, Azman Rice, and Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, with all producing sugar, rice, and cassava.
He disclosed that two sites have been identified for the newly approved institute for Agric Equipment, Machinery Development
“The Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State is working along with the Head of Service, to ensure that they have a temporary site for the take-off of the institute,” he stated.
“The new institute would afford training for Youth and as a technical person, I am so excited about this idea”.
Also speaking, the Emir of Lafia, HRH Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad (rtd), assured NASENI of total support towards ensuring that the newly approved institute.
Also speaking, The NASENI boss while conveying the letter approving the agricultural equipment and machinery institute in Lafia.
Prof.Haruna said the institution, the Agriculture Equipment and Machinery Development Institute is a specialized institute that will develop machinery and tools, that will ease agricultural trades, food processing, preservation, and innovation, in all the value chain of agricultural practice.
He said that all the equipment needed in the agricultural sector, from small to heavy machinery, will be produced locally in the State capital.
Explaining that, the institute will commence assembling certain equipment locally and in collaboration with other NASENI centres.
The NASENI Boss averred that aside from the institute, it would open a window for other businesses to thrive as a result of the coming onboard of the institute.
The executive vice-chairman used the opportunity of the visit to recount the process leading to the approval of the institute in Lafia, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He recalled that, earlier on, Governor Abdullahi Sule has put in a request at the presidency, seeking for the setting up of a NASENI institute in Lafia, the state capital, mostly because of his interest in skills acquisition and technology-based job creation, especially for the teeming youths of Nasarawa State.
Prof Sani explained that, as a result of the request by Governor Sule, the Federal Government decided to establish an agricultural equipment and machinery development institute in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country in which Lafia was included.
“After a rigorous assessment, monitoring peace, progress, and commitment to agriculture, among other indicators, the Presidency decided to cite the one of North Central in Nasarawa State,” Prof Haruna disclosed.
