Senator Rufa’i Hanga currently represents Kano Central at the National Assembly.
He has recently sponsored a bill titled: A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal University of Agriculture, Kura, Kano State, which has passed second reading recently, seconded and supported by Senators Muhammad Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) and Kawu Sumaila, (Kano South) respectively. He was interviewed by our Senior correspondent
Excerpts.
Can you briefly give us a preamble about this your bill?
The bill is a bold step toward, not only addressing the educational need of people of Kano State, but will also serve as a training ground for the development of agriculture in the country. Agriculture with its allied sectors is unquestionably the largest livelihood provider, more so in the rural areas, and can contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the nation.
How can rural farmers benefit from the university?
The demand for agricultural product is rising rapidly with increase in population and per capita income and growing demand from the industrial sector. The Federal University of Agriculture, Kura, if established will provide the holistic development of the agricultural education, knowledge, skills and the telescopic vision on the future that will help contribute to accelerate agricultural growth rate, enhance farmers’ income and generate employment in the sector.
Can you quickly explain the objectives of the university, if established?I
f established, it will encourage the advancement of learning and hold out to all persons without any form of distinctions; offer academic programmes, leading to the award of Diplomas, Degrees, among others, which emphasize planning, adaptive, technical, maintenance of developmental and productive skills in agriculture, agricultural engineering and allied professional disciplines, with the aim of producing socially matured persons with capacity to improve on those disciplines, and develop new ones, contribute to the scientific transformation of agriculture in Nigeria.
Can you further speak on conservation of natural agricultural products through the university?
It will act as agents of catalysts through postgraduate training, research and innovation for the effective and economic utilization, exploitation and conservation of Nigeria’s natural, agricultural, economic and human resources; offer the general population, as a form of public service, the result of training and research in agriculture and allied disciplines and foster the practical application of those results and; establish appropriate relationships with other national institutions involved in training, research and agricultural development.
Can you speak on other additional uses of the university?
It will promote basic scientific as a foundation for agricultural development in Nigeria, by taking into account, indigenous cultures and the need to enhance national unity; encourage scholarship and conduct research in restricted fields of learning and human endeavors. It will also relate its activities to the technological, social, cultural and economic needs of the people and; undertake any other activities, appropriate for agriculture university of the highest standards.
My belief therefore is that the university will support agricultural policies in the neighboring states, Nigeria and West Africa in general.