Nigeria: Oyo Govt Partners BATN On Education

Source from:  Daily Champion 12/24/2009

Oyo State Government has thrown its weight behind the British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) as the company lifts 10 Nigerian Agricultural Science undergraduates in various universities with its Agronomy Scholarship Award to enable them pursue their courses. The government gesture was demonstrated on Thursday when two commissioners from the State Cabinet - the Commissioner for Education, Professor Taoheed Adedoja and the Commissioner for Finance, Chief Bayo Bankole - graced the Scholarship Award scheme held at Jogor Centre, Ibadan where they pledged the State Government solidarity with the company. Professor Adedoja, who presided at the occasion which was the 6th in the series, described the British American Tobacco Nigeria/British American Tobacco Iseyin Agronomy Scholarship Award scheme as "an exceptional initiative and a huge motivation for students who have chosen to make a career in a rather challenging discipline, at a time the agricultural sector requires urgent interventions." While commending the BATN for the initiative which he said was a clear demonstration of the organisation's commitment to the support of academic excellence and skilled manpower development in Nigeria's agricultural sector, and in response to its social responsibilities, Adedoja stressed the need for increased private sector participation in the agricultural sector as exemplified by BAT Nigeria. The Commissioner noted with concern that the adverse effects of the dearth of resources, human and infrastrusture inclusive, low research capability and lack of requisite information and communication technology "have been discouraging higher education enrolment in agricultural education." According to him, it has therefore become pertinent to appreciate the pivotal role academic development would significantly play in addressing these challenges and providing a pool of next generation agriculturists. Consequently, the Commissioner declared: "Effective collaboration between the government and the private sector would inevitably translate to a promotion of innovative research networks, production of higher manpower in the field of agriculture and provision of incentives that would stimulate increased studentship and eventual retention of entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector." Speaking earlier, the BATN Head of Leaf, Mr. Thomas Omofoye explained that the organisation's gesture was in demonstration of its commitment to continually add value to its host communities, and by extension, support the Federal Government's agenda to transform the Educational and Agricutural sectors of the economy by promoting higher education enrolment in agriculture. He disclosed that with the 2009 BATN/BATIA Scholarship Award Scheme, the number of beneficiaries to date has increased to 55 undergraduates studying Agricultural Sciences in various universities in the country. The ten latest recipients include Miss Omotola Dorcas Ogunwole (ABU Zaria); Mr. Afeez Aderoju Adeleke (U.I); Mr. Abdul Ocheja (Kogi); Miss Aishat Oluwatosin Salawu (FUT Yola); Mr. Oluwatobi Emmanuel Fijabi (U.I.); Miss Florence Tinuade Egbeleke (LAUTECH); Olutope Oduola (LAUTECH); Esther Olanrewaju (LAUTECH); (Ameliefo Chukwudi Ezenwa (ABU Zaria); and Mohammed A. D. Yahaya (ABU Zaria). Enditem