By Abdullahi Lukman
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has inaugurated a five-member committee to begin the selection of ten universities for the establishment of mechanised commercial farms and livestock operations as part of its 2025 intervention.
Chairman of TETFund’s Board of Trustees, Aminu Bello Masari, announced that only universities of agriculture or those with strong Faculties of Agriculture will be considered.
Additional requirements include having at least 50 hectares of unencumbered land and a functioning commercial farm involved in at least one agricultural value chain.
Masari, speaking in Abuja during the committee’s inauguration, emphasized that the selection process would be objective and transparent.
“Most of the institutions have submitted their Expressions of Interest, and it became necessary to constitute this committee to ensure transparency in the selection process,” he stated.
He described agriculture as a vital component of Nigeria’s socio-economic development, highlighting its role in food security, job creation, poverty reduction, and economic growth.
Masari also stressed the need to adopt modern agricultural technologies such as automation and data-driven farming to increase productivity.
The Evaluation Committee is chaired by Mr. Ewara E. Bassey, Director of the Federal Department of Agriculture, and includes representatives from the Ministries of Education and Livestock Development, the National Universities Commission, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, and TETFund.
The committee has been tasked with reviewing submissions, developing assessment templates, scoring performance, and recommending institutions from different geopolitical zones.
It has a two-week deadline to deliver its report.
Masari praised the committee members for their patriotism and commitment, expressing confidence that their recommendations would significantly advance the country’s agricultural transformation.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Bassey assured that the team is fully committed to delivering impactful outcomes.
