*MOUAU Empowers 12 Farmers with ₦300,000 Each, Advances Modern Agriculture*
By Joy Nlebedum and Sunday Anyim
The Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, has reaffirmed the University’s commitment to ensuring that host communities benefit directly from its agricultural innovations, describing effective extension services as central to the institution’s mandate.
Speaking at the 2026 Farmers’ Summit and Empowerment Programme, organised by the MOUAU Extension Centre (MEC) with the theme “Placing Value Addition to Agricultural Produce,” Prof. Akanwa said the University must ensure its products, technologies and research positively impact farmers and surrounding communities.
She stressed that agriculture has moved beyond traditional practices, urging farmers to embrace modern technologies, smart agriculture and value addition to improve productivity and profitability. She disclosed plans to retrain Extension Centre staff and beneficiaries to equip them with current skills that will enhance agricultural production.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, beneficiaries of the empowerment programme will be closely monitored to assess their progress, identify challenges and provide continuous support to ensure lasting impact. She also encouraged young people to embrace agriculture as a profitable enterprise rather than merely a means of subsistence.
Earlier, the Director of the MOUAU Extension Centre(MEC), Prof. Uchechi Akpu, said the Centre’s mandate is to empower farmers through training, improved technologies and practical interventions that increase productivity, improve livelihoods and reduce poverty in rural communities.
He noted that following the success of last year’s programme, where six farmers received ₦250,000 each, the University expanded the initiative this year to support 12 beneficiaries selected after participating in the 2026 Farmers’ Summit and other capacity-building programmes. He added that improved planting materials and farm inputs had earlier been distributed to farmers at the beginning of the farming season.
Prof. Akpu commended the Vice-Chancellor for supporting the initiative and reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture through the university’s effective extension services.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of ₦300,000 cheques to each of the 12 beneficiaries from the Umuahia, Aba and Ohafia Agricultural Zones to strengthen enterprises in cassava production, poultry, vegetable farming, fish farming, agribusiness, oil processing and food processing.
The initiative underscores MOUAU’s commitment to promoting value addition, modern agricultural practices and sustainable livelihoods for farmers in its adopted communities.
