UNLOCKING THE POTENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE IN MOPA THROUGH INVESTMENT IN TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Mopa, the headquarters of Mopa-Amuro Local Government Area in Kogi State, is a virgin land that is long over riped for development, much like a fertile soil that beckons a diligent and whokaholic farmer.
The decision by the Kogi State Government to relocate the Kogi State College of Education (Technical) to Mopa is a laudable one, as it offers a unique opportunity for the growth and advancement of technical and vocational education in the area.
The proximity of the College to the Maga Cement Company in Iluagba is a significant advantage, providing students with easy access to industrial training and hands-on experience. This strategic location will enable students to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, fostering a deeper understanding of their chosen careers.
In addition, the College ‘s Vocational Education in Agriculture and trained experts in the field present an opportunity for the government to invest in agricultural education, thereby enhancing food production and security in the state. The College ‘s 3km x 3km arable land provides a suitable location for agricultural projects, which will also help clear bushes and forests, reducing potential hideouts for criminal activities.
Recently, His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo launched the wet season farming initiative with a significant investment of over Seven Billion Naira in farm inputs and the deployment of more than 100 tractors across the 7,324 hectares of farmland. We urge the government to consider including the Kogi State College of Education (Technical), Mopa in this initiative, leveraging the College’s expertise and resources to enhance the impacts of the loudable programme.
The College has a proven track records, having recently partnered with Dangote Cement Company, Obajana for the 2023 Youths Empowerment Scheme in Kogi State. By involving the College in the wet season farming initiative, the government could tap into its expertise and infrastructure, in order to ensuring the scheme is more effective and sustainable.
We encourage the state government under the vibrant, able, amiable and God fearing leader, His Excellency Alh. Usman Ahmed Ododo to seize this opportunity to create a hub for skills development, innovation, and entrepreneurship, ultimately transforming the socio-economic landscape of Kogi State. By investing in agriculture through the College, the government can empower farmers, increase quality food production and provides sustainable solutions to food security, shortages and poverty.
Yunusa Onalo
Head, Information and Protocol unit,
KSCOE(T.), MOPA.
