From Yakubu Wuyep, Jos
Plateau State stakeholders have called on the Plateau State Government to upgrade the Plateau College of Agriculture Garkawa to a Federal University of Agriculture.
The National President of the Garkawa Old Students Association, Dr. Joseph Gimba, who made the proposal, described the planned transformation as a strategic investment aimed at advancing agricultural modernization, technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth in Plateau State.
According to him, the upgrade would enable the institution to meet the demands of modern agriculture, which increasingly relies on science, biotechnology, mechanization, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and climate-smart solutions.
Gimba noted that the transformation would reposition the college into a multidisciplinary academic and research hub capable of producing graduates equipped with practical and technological skills required for the 21st-century economy.
He explained that integrating agriculture with science and technology disciplines would strengthen Plateau State’s efforts in food security, youth empowerment, rural development, and sustainable economic diversification.
The proposal highlighted several areas of innovation that the upgraded institution could support, including precision agriculture, smart irrigation systems, agricultural biotechnology, renewable energy applications, digital agricultural extension services, and food processing technologies.
It further stated that the institution could emerge as a regional centre for scientific research and technological advancement through the establishment of research and innovation centres, technology incubation hubs, renewable energy laboratories, demonstration farms, and enterprise development centres.
The document emphasized that the transformation would stimulate economic growth by creating jobs, promoting agro-allied industries, encouraging entrepreneurship, and enhancing opportunities for research commercialization.
The proposed institution is also expected to produce graduates with expertise in agricultural science, information and communication technology, environmental and climate science, biotechnology, data analytics, innovation management, and enterprise development.
In line with global trends, the proposal advocates the incorporation of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), drone technology, robotics, automation systems, and big data analytics into teaching and research activities.
The initiative also seeks to establish a ‘Gold-Class’ educational model combining academic excellence, practical training, innovation, industry collaboration, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
The proposal argues that the upgraded institution would become eligible for expanded intervention funding from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and other development partners, thereby supporting infrastructure development, research, laboratory expansion, staff training, and ICT advancement.
Among the anticipated long-term benefits are increased agricultural productivity, improved food security, stronger climate resilience, youth employment, rural economic transformation, enhanced research capacity, and attraction of local and international investment.
Gimba urged the Plateau State Government to give favourable consideration to the proposal and commence the necessary legislative, administrative, and financial processes required to actualize the transformation.
He maintained that the initiative would not only strengthen the state’s education and agriculture sectors but also position Plateau as a national leader in science, technology, innovation, and sustainable development.