The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has lauded the agrarian mandate of Landmark University saying the Institution is indeed on point and will go a long way in complementing other efforts of governmental and non-governmental agencies in the areas of production of improved varieties, adoption of appropriate technology, mechanization of production process, value addition and development of appropriate harvesting and post harvesting of machines.

He made this known through the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kwara State, Hon. Goke Bamidele at the Cassava Adding Value to Africa (CAVA) II Farmers’ Field Day held on 6th February, 2019 held at the International Conference Centre of Landmark University. He added that the roles of the University in CAVA II project is highly commendable being an agrarian University driving impact and production at all levels of agriculture, as this indeed has made the University live up to its set mandate.

Commenting on the programme, the (CAVA) II Project Coordinator Professor Kolawole Adebayo stated that 78 institutions are partners of the project which will attain 10 years of existence by March this year. He noted that CAVA II is supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to empower cassava farmers to increase output in production and one of the ways it is been achieved is producing high quality cassava.  Professor Adebayo further reiterated that knowledge is important to cassava production and CAVA II has adopted the instrumentation of empowerment programme to educate farmers on the right method to be use in the production chain. “We decided in 2017 to bring CAVA II to Landmark University because of our very own Professor Olayanju so that the community and its environs can benefit from the programme. I must say that as a University you are young but you have become a leading light in agrarian revolution in Nigeria.” 

In his submission, the Vice Chancellor, Landmark, Professor Adeniyi Olayanju, noted that the entire Landmark community celebrates the successful completion of the Cassava: Adding Value to Africa Phase II (CAVA II) Project within her context. To him the CAVA II Project has indeed lived the true meaning of its name – Adding Value to Africa, having been at the vanguard of cassava value chain in Africa thereby causing colossal transformation through awesome innovations and technologies. 

He appreciated the privileged extension of the Project to Landmark and unflinching support which undoubtedly culminated into the advancement of the institution’s agrarian vision. “You are indeed a partner in the progress of our agrarian revolution, while looking forward to further mutually beneficial collaborations. It is not accidental at this occasion that we recognize the values and virtues brought to our context.” 

In a latter development, the Farmers present at the programme were taken to the CAVA II project site where they were put into four groups to have hands-on experience in the production process that led to the great yield the University experienced during the project. This session at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University was facilitated by Professor Adeniyi Olayanju, Professor Kolawole Adebayo, Professor Charity Aremu. Mr. Stephen Olonade (CAVA Agronomist) and other Eminent Faculty of Landmark College of Agricultural Sciences