UNILESA oil processing factory to commence operations soon

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilesa, Osun State, Prof. Taiwo Asaolu, has disclosed the apiculture section and palm oil processing factory of the institution’s integrated farm would soon commence operations.

Asaolu disclosed this during the official handover of a farm belonging to him to the university and the opening of its Faculty of Law buildings.

The vice chancellor recalled how he started the farm with four cows, four sheep and one ram a few monthagock and considered it his personal property until January this year, when he decided to donate it to the institution.

According to Asaolu, the farm would be used for teaching and research purposes by the lecturers and students.

He, however, warned unauthorised persons against farming or engaging in hunting expeditions on the farm, adding that anyone caught would be appropriately sanctioned.

He said, “I took it upon myself to start something on a small scale, starting with four cows bought at N100,000 each, four sheep and one ram. With professional support from Dr Niyi Adegbite and some experts as our consultants, the farm started developing gradually.

“Up until January 2024, I still considered the farm as my own, but an incident occurred when the area commander of police visited the university. In line with our tradition, we took him on a guided tour around the campus. On getting to the Faculty of Law, we saw some herdsmen, who intruded into the campus and the police officer called them and warned them against bringing their herds to the university.

“As we were still standing, we saw another set of cows around the same area. I thought it was from another set of intruders, we were about to summon the herdsmen before some staff members on my entourage told us they were our own. This statement brought out some emotions in me as it gladdened my heart that my member of staff at the university has taken ownership of the cows. There and then, I decided to donate the farm to the university.”

According to the VC, the farm currently has ranches for cows, sheep and rams, catfish ponds (artificial, earthen and natural), rabbit and snail farms, which are under construction.

“The poultry and apiculture sections, the feed mill and the palm oil processing section will be up and running soon,” he noted.