Academic programmes in the proposed Ekiti State College of Technical and Commercial Agriculture would commence in September as the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Wednesday inaugurated a 14-man steering committee that will drive the process of the  establishment of the College.

Inaugurating the committee in Ado Ekiti, the Governor said the College which would run both short and long term certificate awarding courses will develop middle level agricultural manpower that will effectively combine skills with cutting edge technologies to drive agricultural production and productivity as vehicle for industrial and socio-economic growth.

Fayemi asserted that graduates from the institution would be tailored to drive and deliver high level technological innovations in Agriculture within and outside the State.

“It is my belief that with your valuable inputs, this institution should admit its first set of students by this September. I hereby urge you to sacrifice your time and energy to make the dream a reality. I am here to assure you of my full support in achieving the enormous task lying ahead of you”, he asserted.

Speaking on the preparatory processes of establishing the College which will partner with notable international agricultural institutions, the Governor disclosed that the State Government has decided to cede the proposed Oodua Farmers’ Academy complex which is under construction to the College in order to fast-track its establishment.

He added that fast-tracked establishment is a critical requirement from AGCO, one of the partners to drive the College, to attract a huge model commercial farm tagged Future Farms.

On the justification for the establishment of the College, Fayemi said agriculture is the mainstay of about 70% of the State’s rural population hence the need for the development of sustainable modern agriculture; adding that with the introduction of the Youth in Commercial Agriculture.