Federal colleges of agriculture have appealed to the federal government for inclusion in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) scheme for the rapid development of the institutions in the country.

Olufemi Owolabi, the registrar of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, appealed while speaking with journalists in Akure.

Mr Owolabi, who described the college as a monotechnic, said it has become necessary for the government to capture colleges of agriculture in the scheme to function well in facilities and development.

According to him, the colleges are doing things from the meagre funds given to them as subvention.

“As a monotechnic institution, we are not captured in the TETFund scheme, which would have helped us a lot because we also do vocational training for farmers in the state,” he said.

Listing other challenges faced by the college, Mr Owolabi explained that it had contended with encroachment by land grabbers over the years.

He also called on the government to adequately fund the institution to achieve its mandate and assist in boosting food security in its host state and county.

The registrar disclosed that the authorities recently suspended and expelled 19 students to maintain academic excellence in the institution.

He explained that the action followed the outcome of the student’s disciplinary committee report, which indicted the students of examination malpractice and other vices.

(NAN)