The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has entered into strategic partnerships with two Nigerian companies, Integrated Lancaster Farms and Assetrise Limited, to promote agricultural innovation and job creation through the establishment of additional demonstration farms across the country.
The Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during a ceremony held yesterday in Abuja,
Speaking at the event, NSE President, Margaret Oguntala, emphasized the role of this initiative in generating employment for Nigerians. She stressed that the partnerships align with the society’s vision for national development.
“This partnership is not just about advancing the activities of the NSE; it’s about creating tangible benefits for everyone involved,” Oguntala remarked.
“For our partners, this relationship offers value that can be shared with their stakeholders, and for our members, it’s an opportunity to participate in a project that enhances their contributions to the nation’s development. The goal is to improve Nigeria’s agricultural sector, which is important to the future of our country. “
She noted that the collaboration aims to introduce innovative technologies and practices to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.
According to her, the agreement also resonates with the theme of this year’s NSE annual conference.
Also speaking, the Group Managing Director of Assetrise Limited, Oluwadurotimi Ojamamoye, outlined the company’s plans to establish an incubation hub for recent graduates to own and operate their own farms.
He shared that at the Federal University of Agriculture, the firm has been allocated 100 hectares of land, which is currently being used to cultivate millions of yam tubers.
The project, he noted, aims to expand to 1,000 hectares, allowing each graduating student to cultivate a hectare, thereby empowering 1,500 young Nigerians.
“Currently, we run the biggest farm in Lagos state. It is assumed that Lagos doesn’t have land. And so we have to depend elsewhere for food. But Epe has a lot of land. We were able to cultivate over a million tubers in 2023.
“This year, we are delivering close to 3 million tubers in Lagos state. We have also been able to introduce our Smart City project, a 3,000 hectares project which is presently ongoing,” he added.
In his remarks, Patrick Obidoyin, Co-founder of Integrated Lancaster Farms, shared the company’s vision of empowering Nigerian youth and reducing unemployment.
He stated that Nigeria possesses all the resources required to transition from its current food production deficit to achieving a surplus, and expressed optimism about building a more fruitful and beneficial partnership for all parties involved.