The Kwara State University, (KWASU), Malete, Thursday entered into a partnership with the Heart and Capital on the cultivation of a-500-hectare plantation in the university.
Signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the university, the vice chancellor, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, said the event was historic because the school was partnering with a company founded by former students of the school.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the vice chancellor signed for the university, while the co-founders of the company, Malam Umar Adelodun and Malam AbdulQowiy Olododo, signed on behalf of the firm.
He said the idea of the company is in line with the principle of entrepreneurship development of the school.
“Our aim since inception is to produce graduates like them, who will not be roaming the streets searching for jobs.
“The university aims to produce those who will have ideas that will move mountains.
“We are, therefore, proud of you because you are already role models on campus,” he said.
The KWASU boss expressed willingness and readiness to encourage former students of the university with ideas that would benefit the country.
He, however, urged the company to go beyond plantation and process the produce for export.
“The problem we have in Nigeria is not about land, but lack of strategies to make our land useful.
“Smartness is to go beyond plantation and process for export to international market.
“It is, therefore, our goal to promote you to the world because there is no way parents will want their children to come down,” he said.
He urged the company to justify the confidence the university had in it.
A co-founder of the company, Malam Umar Adelodun, earlier said that the university would provide the land while the firm would do the cultivation.
He said the firm is to grow economic and trees such as cashew and teak.
He commended the vice chancellor for good leadership which, he said, had transformed the school over the years.
He said that the firm would remain grateful for the confidence that the university had reposed in it.
