Green Campus: Uniabuja Plants 1,503 Date Seedlings

Green Campus: Uniabuja Plants 1,503 Date Seedlings

The University of Abuja has planted no fewer than 1,503 seedlings of date palm on 12 hectares of its land, as part of a plantation exercise to make the institution a green campus.

The exercise was a collaboration between the University of Abuja and Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR).

Flagging off the plantation at the Main Campus of the University, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, said this was part of the University’s effort to create a green campus and contribute to economic development of the country.

“We are delighted for the opportunity to formally launch this plantation of date palm on our campus. We want to have a green campus. I believe that there is no greater wealth than land. The University believes in the potential of agriculture not only as a source of revenue generation, but to also help change the fortunes of this country,” the Vice-Chancellor said, adding that students, particularly, and the University as a whole will benefit greatly from the plantation.

Professor Na’Allah who was accompanied to the plantation by the Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Clement Alawa; Registrar, Malam Yahya Mohammed; Dean of Students Affairs, Dr Abubakar Umar Kari, and other senior staff of the University, stated that more economic trees, including teak, jatropha, oil palm, shea and mahogany, would be planted on the campus in due course.

The Vice Chancellor, stressed that the plantation would aid not only in teaching and research but alleviate poverty and ensure food security in the country, in line with the SDGs target goals 1&2 empowerment and skill acquisition.

He said given the strategic location of the University, it was well-positioned to be a front-runner in agricultural research and development, adding that his administration will ensure that the University continues to give maximum support to such research.

Dr Habib Yakoob,
Head, Information and University Relations, University of Abuja