The Faculty of Agriculture, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi state, has submitted a proposal for the establishment of an integrated commercial farm aimed at transforming the university’s farm into a commercially viable agribusiness. A landmark initiative designed to strengthen practical agricultural training, boost food production, and create sustainable income opportunities for the institution and the surrounding community.
Presenting the proposal to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Robert Onyeneke explained that the five-year proposal seeks to integrate crop production, livestock, fisheries, and agro-processing under a unified management system. He stated that Priority will be given to high-return enterprises such as ginger, seed yam, broiler production, and catfish farming to generate early revenue, while long-term investments including cattle ranching and orchard development will be introduced gradually.
Onyeneke outlined a monitoring and risk management framework with key performance indicators, reporting schedules, and operational safeguards aimed at ensuring accountability, efficiency and long-term growth. He reiterated the plans for infrastructure rehabilitation, feed milling, processing facilities, market expansion, and export readiness, stressing that the project is expected to promote financial sustainability, research, training, and community development, while positioning AE-FUNAI Integrated Farms Ltd for long-term growth and investment opportunities.
He noted that the farm will be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to make it a viable and sustainable enterprise, with the Vice-Chancellor serving as Chairman of the Board.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Daniel Nwachukwu commended the Faculty for the initiative, describing the proposal as timely and impactful, adding that business enterprise is the way forward as government subventions cannot sustain university operational activities.
He advised the faculty to partner with privates investors in the running of the business as the university may not properly run it for sustained profit.
He commended them for being the first faculty in the university to have submitted a business proposal to the university management, while assuring them of his administration’s support to make it work.
This is coming at a time the Vice-Chancellor during his campus tour challenged the various faculties and academic departments to identify profitable areas they can invest in to provide solutions to the numerous challenges facing humanity, and also to generate some revenue.
