Ondo Governor approves Rufus Giwa Polytechnic’s upgrade to University of Agriculture 

Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo has been authorized by Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to become a University of Agriculture and Agribusiness.

This was revealed in a statement released in Akure on Wednesday by Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor’s chief press secretary.

According to Aiyedatiwa, the decision was made after the previous administration’s original plan to transform the polytechnic into a University of Management Science and Technology was reviewed.

The governor claims that the university would act as a prototype for the state government’s revolution in agriculture and food security.

He went on to say that a committee would be established by the government to specify the procedures for carrying out the conversion.

“This is to ensure that the institution’s current staff and students are not negatively impacted by the transition,” Aiyedatiwa stated.

A youth-focused agriculture initiative worth N15 billion
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and a private investor to invest N15 billion in an agriculture project aimed at young people was also signed by the governor.

According to him, the Memorandum of Understanding for the Young Ranchers Agricultural Cluster Development Program creates a partnership between the government and AgroMall Discovery and Extension Limited.
The program will emphasize hands-on training in agricultural and related operations for students and practical farming for youth.
Three agricultural clusters’ implementation
Aiyedatiwa added that the corporation would use five hectares of land in each of the state’s three clusters, with three higher education institutions acting as pilot host beneficiaries, including the recently upgraded RUGIPO.

“The program will emphasize hands-on farming for youth and hands-on agricultural and agriculture-related training for students.”

Each of the three universities that will serve as hosts will receive a portion of the operations’ profits in addition to providing training for the students, he continued.

Furthermore, in order to improve state resource planning and administration and ultimately increase revenue production, Aiyedatiwa accepted a contract with BBA Consult for the creation and implementation of a secure ICT system.

Additional Understanding
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) is a well-established tertiary institution in Ondo State, Nigeria. Founded in 1979 as The Polytechnic, Owo, it was later renamed in 2003 in honor of Chief Rufus Foluso Giwa, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist.

Over the years, the institution has built a strong reputation for providing technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial education, significantly contributing to manpower development in Nigeria. As one of the country’s leading polytechnics, RUGIPO has offered National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programs across various fields.
Despite its contributions, RUGIPO—like many Nigerian polytechnics—has faced challenges such as underfunding, infrastructural decay, and limited research opportunities.
The decision to upgrade RUGIPO into a University of Agriculture and Agribusiness is aimed at repositioning the institution for greater impact, particularly in agricultural development, food security, and agribusiness innovation.