Njala University Sierra
Leone has signed a US $ 191m Memorandum of Understanding with the Agriculture
Value Chain Development Project (AVDP) to implement an Oil Palm project at the
University Secretariat.
The project is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and is geared towards nursing around 540, 000 oil palm seedlings in the next three months for onward distribution to fifteen districts across the country.
Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Osman Sankoh welcomed the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and the Project Management Unit of AVDP to Njala Campus. He assured the AVDP Project Management Unit and the Deputy Minister that his staff at the School of Agriculture have all what it takes to implement the project.
On his part, the deputy minister of Agriculture, Dr Abdu Karim noted that the New Direction Government was not only keen in improving agriculture for farmers but it is also committed to building the capacity of key institutions like Njala University to enhance national agricultural promotion.
While giving the vote of thanks, Dr Alieu Bah, Head of Department, Crop Science, School of Agriculture and Food Science, praised the Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal for the support accorded to the School of Agriculture in actualizing the eventual signing of the MOU.
He underscored the point that the project would increase the profile of the University to once more provide jobs and enhance the capacity of women and youths in the surrounding communities.
He continued that Njala University would also benefit from tools and training for its students during the project implementation stage.
