Since its inception, the University of Nigeria Consultancy Services Limited (UNN CONSULT) has been initiating projects to give the institution a facelift. It is also training students on hands-on skills in agricultural production. JAMES OJO (Mass Communication) reports.Established 31 years ago to drive the school’s commercialisation of research, the University of Nigeria Consultancy Services (UNN CONSULT) has been blazing the trail in helping the school to achieve its cardinal projects.
In line with the vision of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozuma, the firm carried projects aimed at empowering students and staff.
The CONSULT has championed agricultural programmes of the school, which is to contribute to revitalisation of the nation’s agriculture sector and enhance the quality of food production. In the last five years, the firm made heavy investment in key agricultural projects, including dairy, snail and fish farms, cassava flour production, and poultry farm.
Speaking on the claim that the school is helping to increase beef production, Head of Department of Animal Science, Prof S.O. Ugwu, said the school through the CONSULT invested in cattle rearing to produce quality beefs for the market and also to expose Animal Science students to the rudiments of the course.
He said: “Our beef production project is quite exceptional, producing high quality beefs that are safe for public consumption. People are sure of the beefs they are buying, because we maintain high level of professionalism in rearing the cattle and making the beefs.”
Highlighting the benefits of the project to the students, Ugwu pointed out that the initiative had equipped students with practical knowledge on fattening of cattle, production factor and sale.
Aside the cattle project, the CONSULT is also constructing a green house for the Faculty of Agriculture to enhance the quality of research. According to Dr. Nnadi, the project’s consultant, green house is a building with glass sides and roof used for growing and nurturing plants.
Nnadi said: “Our students are benefitting from this project as they are learning how to build and use green house. They are the ones taking measurements. They will practically be doing some works inside the green house when it is completed. This is to link what they read in the class and practice. This gives them a hands-on experience.”
The CONSULT is also responding to erosion problems confronting the institution and initiating intervention programme to address water scarcity being experienced within the school. In tackling erosion, the CONSULT is championing construction of drains and creating new water channel on the campus.
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