The General Manager, Lagos State Coconut Development Agency (LASCODA), Mr. J.O Olakunlehin, on Tuesday, 28th November, 2022, led officials of the agency to a meeting with the Lagos State University Management in a bid to seek partnership with the institution on coconut technology and research. The proposed collaboration, he said, is aimed at using technology and research to exponentially increase production of the cash crop in order to meet up with local and international demands.
Mr. Olakunlehin, noted that LASU, being a state government university, is well placed and has the human resources to collaborate with the agency in order to add value to the coconut food chain and maximise the potentials in the industry.
The Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel A. Fanu, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, at the meeting, expressed the university’s willingness to collaborate with the agency and provide all the needed support for researchers in the university to achieve stated goals. Mr. Fanu, while assuring that LASU would continue to work closely with LASCODA to return coconut to it’s pride of place in the country, made a case for the supply of one thousand coconut seeds to be planted across the four campuses of the university, a request that was favourably considered by the GM.
The University Librarian, Dr. Emmanuel Layi Adebayo, who was also present at the meeting, urged the team to expand the scope of the engagement beyond public institutions to private individuals who are financially endowed to invest in coconut production and promotion.
An Associate Professor in the faculty of Science, Dr. Olusola Sokefun, who is currently carrying out research effort on the subject noted that with the right support, coconut value chain will be greatly enhanced in the state considering the many benefits inherent in the product.
The meeting was concluded with a decision by the two organisations to work out a mutually beneficial agreement to be signed in future.
Deputy Registrar, Legal Unit, Mrs. Olajumoke Boyejo, Deputy Registrar, Vice Chancellor’s Office, Dr. Lateef Sekoni and other officials of the VC’s office were also present at the meeting, which took place at the VC’s conference room, Senate Building, main campus, Ojo.
Credit: Lagos State University, Info Official page.
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