Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has signed into law a bill that renames and restructures the state’s premier agriculture institution to better integrate scientific and technological training across its three campuses.
The governor assented to the legislation on Tuesday while receiving the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Benin City.
The new law renames the institution from Edo State College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to Edo State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology. The college operates three specialised campuses: Iguoriakhi focusing on agricultural technology, Uromi on forestry, and Agenebode on aquaculture.
Presenting the bill to the governor, Speaker Agbebaku explained that the amendment aligns the institution with global best practices in agricultural education. He noted that the revised legislation would equip students with cutting-edge skills, strengthen food security, and promote sustainable agricultural development across the state.
Agbebaku said the House of Assembly reviewed the existing law to reflect the evolving scientific and technological dimensions of modern agriculture. “Agriculture has gone scientific. We decided to amend the bill so that we can push agriculture into the system scientifically,” he stated.
In his response, Governor Okpebholo described the signing as the dawn of a new era for the institution and a major milestone for agricultural development in Edo State. “Today is a new dawn for Edo State College of Agriculture. The amended law will bring significant improvements, and the state will benefit immensely,” he said.
The governor expressed optimism that the new law would enhance students’ capacity and help the state meet rising demands for increased food production and agricultural self-sufficiency. “We want to produce at least 95 per cent of what we consume as a people. We also want agriculture to increase our Internally Generated Revenue,” Okpebholo added.
He highlighted that the sector would create employment opportunities for youths through livestock production, agricultural husbandry, and other value-chain activities, while training young people in livestock breeding, animal care, and management for the production of meat, milk, fibre, and eggs.