University Information

ASSOCIATION OF VICE-CHANCELLORS OF

NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES (AVCNU)

4, Parakou Street, Wuse II, Abuja, Nigeria

Information Form

i.	Name of Institution:	Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
ii.	Location/Town/State:	Umudike/Umuahia/Abia
iii.	Postal/mailing address:	P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia
iv.	Year of Establishment:	November, 1992
		Telephone:	0806 2685 122, 0805 1670 794
		E-mail:		vicechancellor@mouau.edu.ng
		Website:	www.mouau.edu.ng

v.	Mission:		To provide high-quality practical training to students 
				to become professionally competent and confident farmers 
				capable of self-employment to develop environment-friendly 
				and people-sensitive technologies and to enhance the well-being 
				of the people through extension and other interventions.

vi.	Vision:			To be the foremost institution for producing highly-rated
				graduates in Agriculture, Science and Technology and to be a vehicle 
				for the attainment of the primary goals of the National Agricultural 
				Policy of “self-sufficiency in food and fibre” production.  The University 
				aims to provide knowledge through which food and security will be assured,
				in line with the University’s motto: “Knowledge, Food and Security”
				 
				 					
vii.	Names of Officials of the Institution:	
		Visitor:		Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan	
		Chancellor:		HRH Orchivirigh Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula, CFR	
		Pro-Chancellor:		Prof. Mvendaga Jibo
		Vice-Chancellor:	Prof. Ikenna Onyido
		Deputy Vice-Chancellor:	Prof. E.N.T. Akobundu
		Registrar:		Dr. B.N. Adeniji
		Bursar:			Mr. S.O. Sunmonu
		University Librarian:	Mrs. Ahiaoma Ibegwam

viii.	Students Population:		10,417

ix.	Staff Population:		1,220

Brief information on the University

Historical Background Introduction

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, formerly Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, was established as a specialized University by the Federal Government of Nigeria via Decree No 48 of 2nd November 1992. It began formal activities in May 1993 with the appointment of the first Vice-Chancellor, Professor Placid C. Njoku on 27th May, 1993, while other principal officers of the University were appointed later. Prof. Ikenna Onyido, FAAS is the present and third Vice-Chancellor of the institution. The Institution is located in the well known Agricultural Training and Research town of Umudike, 10 kilometres from Umuahia town, the capital of Abia State. The major link road to the University is the Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene Federal Road, a direct route to the State capitals of Abia, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River States. Being close to Umuahia, the University is linked through a major North-South Express Road to most parts of the country. It commenced its activities on the former premises of the Federal College of Agriculture, Umudike (now Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu). Significant Achievements In spite of the University being relatively young, it has recorded some remarkable achievements in teaching, research and community services. Teaching Undergraduates’ enrolment Undergraduate students’ enrolment has continued to increase from year-to-year. The University has graduated six sets of grandaunts to date. Accreditations Up-to-date, the University has secured full accreditation for the following: Bachelor of Agric: (College of Agric Economics Rural Sociology and Extension, College of Animal Science and Animal Production, College of Crop and Soil Sciences), Bachelor of: Fisheries, Food Science and Technology, Chemistry, Physics and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Interim accreditation has been granted for the following Bachelor degree programmes: Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Forestry, Home Economics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Bachelor of Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Engineering. However, Agric Engineering, Electrical Electronics Engineering, Agribusiness, Agric Education and Hotel Management and Tourism are awaiting accreditation:. Post Graduate Studies The Postgraduate School Programmes commenced in 1996/97 Academic Session with only twenty-five (25) students who were mainly staff of the University. The School has since then made steady progress in terms of students’ enrolment and the number that graduated. In the current academic session (2006/2007) total enrolment into the various Departments in the various Programmes (PhD, M. Sc and PGD) is two hundred and seventy one (271). Again, the Postgraduate School graduated a total of two hundred and forty-four (244) students during the last Convocation ceremony made up of 54, PhD; 138, MSC and 52, PGD candidates. Academic Staff Strength To produce high quality graduates, the University has recruited highly qualified academics. Currently, MOUAU has 360 academic staff, made up of 40 Professors and Associate Professors, 60 Senior Lecturers and other cadre of academic staff. Research Breakthroughs

Development of artificial vagina for collecting rabbit semen
Fortification and utilization of cassava peels as basal diet for small ruminants
Identification and nutritive evaluation of browse plants of Umudike and its environs
Establishment of a model of assessing relative preference of forages in range ruminants
Establishment of baseline biochemical and haematological data for normal West African Dwarf goat
Production of life-enzymes and fine-chemicals from wastes of animal feed (Bio-resources)
The University has invented a 2005 National Universities Award-winning apparatus (Engr. Josephat A. Okwor’s
1. Melleb Electrophoretic power packs and tank used for Hb-genotype analysis and
2. Melleb Water bath used for boiling and incubation). The technology is awaiting patenting
Other Research Achievements The University has developed some technologies that are contributing to boost food and fibre production in Nigeria. For instance:
- A mushroom production technology has been developed and is going into commercial production;
- Development of synthetic trypanotolerant hybrid from the Muturu Cattle, which received an outstanding contribution award at the First Nigerian Universities Research and Development fair, organized by the NUC in 2004;
- Fruit juice and wine are now bottled and sold to members of the public;
- Synthetic, highly productive breeds of farm animals that are well-suited for the humid tropical environment have been Developed;
- Some wildlife species like grass cutters (Thrynomys Spp.) and monitor lizard have been successfully domesticated;
- Development of Mucuna cochinchinensis as an alternative feed resources for livestock and poultry;
- Neglected tubers such as Bitter yam (Discorea dumentorum), Rizga (Plectranthus esculentus) and Hausa potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius) were investigated and thrown-up as novel energy sources for broiler chickens;
- Development of sword bean (Canavalia gladiata), as an alternative feed resource for livestock and poultry;
- Converting bush to meat: The case of Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) for livestock;
- Converting Agricultural waste to meat: The case of yam, plantain and sweet potato peels for livestock and poultry;
- Established the effect of Breed of Sire on growth performance of exotic crossbred pigs in a humid tropical environment;
- Genetic improvement of local chicken stock incorporating adaptability genes in exotic broiler stock;
University Publications
- The University publishes the Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment, which is a bi-annual international Journal.
- Furthermore, the University has published a number of text books and Journals valuable to the Tropical rainforest and derived savannah zones. For instance, with support from the United States of America Embassy in Nigeria, the University has published three textbooks:
- Farming Systems Research and Development in Nigeria. Principles and practice in Humid and Derived Savannah South-east Zone,
- Linkage Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture in Nigeria: Research-Extension-Farmer-Input Linkage System (REFILS) and
- Effective Communication: Report Writing and Seminar Presentations.
Community Development Services
Participation in REFILS Activities The University cooperates with other research, extension, and input and marketing organizations to implement the Research Extension Farmer Input Linkage System (REFILS) as necessary. In this area of cooperation with other organizations, we provide resource persons, and Co-team leadership for the teams backing up any of the state ADPs within our mandate zone.
We also provide staff to participate in the implementation of any relevant Monthly Technology Review Meetings (MTRMs) and other workshops, survey, on-farm research and on-farm adaptive research within our mandate zone that would be beneficial to the clientele farmer groups.
Provision of On-the-Job Training for Youths in Agriculture
The University provides, demand driven, location-specific, on-the-job training of youths in the south-east agricultural zone of Nigeria in all aspect of agriculture particularly in the area of Development of appropriate commodity systems and guidance on effective and efficient utilization of various types of credit facilities. The objective is to quickly raise a crop of productive manpower armed with modern techniques and technologies. Such new breed of farmers will replace the fast, aging farming population.