Michael Okpara University of agriculture (formerly Federal University of Agriculture), Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria was established as a specialized University by a Federal Government of Nigeria Decree No 48 of 2nd November 1992. Formal activities began in May 1993, with the appointment of the first Vice-Chancellor and the first Governing Council on 27th May, 1993. Other key officials were appointed later.

The first set of 82 students was admitted into the institution in the 1993/94 academic year. The undergraduate student population has grown to 3,612 by 2005/06. The University commenced postgraduate programmes in 1997/98, with 41 students. The postgraduate student population has increased to 476 by 2005/06.

The University started with six Colleges and two Schools, namely College of Agricultural Economics, Rural Sociology and extension, College of Animal science and Animal Health, College of Crop and soil sciences, College of food Processing and storage technology, College of Natural Resources and Environmental management, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, School of General and Remedial Studies (now School of General Studies) and a Postgraduate School. Currently, there are nine Colleges, with the addition of College of Agribusiness and Financial Management, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine.

The University established two Centres, namely Centre for Agricultural Commodity Marketing Research and Training (CACMART) and Centre for Operations Research, Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (COSARD). Currently, these Centres are no longer functional.

The Institution is located in the well-known agricultural training and research city of Umudike, about 10 km from Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, along the Ikot-Ekpene road. Umudike is located geographically on latitude 05^◦29^ North, longitude 07^◦33^ East and an altitude of 122 m above sea level. The major link road to the University is the Umuahia-Ikot-Ekpene Federal road, a direct route to the capital cities of Abia, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River States.

The University commenced its activities on the premises of the former Federal College of Agriculture, Umudike. However, the University has acquired 6,500 hectares of land for expansion. Physical development of the University is progressing in line with the approved Master Plan.

 

The philosophy of the University leans heavily on the desirability of providing a strategic vehicle for the attainment of the major goals of the National Agricultural policy, namely self-sufficiency in food and fibre. Deriving from this and cognizant of her national responsibilities, the University is committed to acting as agent and catalyst for effective and efficient exploitation, utilization and conservation of Nigeria’s natural, agricultural, economic and human resources. It does this through training, manpower development, research and innovation and extension.

a.       to encourage the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex, or political conviction, the opportunity of acquiring a higher education in Agriculture;

b.       to develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate research and higher degrees which emphasize planning, adaptive, technical, maintenance, developmental and adaptive skills in agriculture, agricultural engineering and allied professional disciplines with the aim of producing socially mature persons with capacity to improve on those disciplines and develop new ones, but also to contribute to the scientific transformation of agriculture in Nigeria;

c.       to act as agents and catalysts, through postgraduate training, research and innovation for the effective and economic utilization, exploitation and conservation of Nigeria’s natural, agricultural, economic and human resources;

d.      to offer to the general population as a form of public service, the results of training and research in agriculture and allied disciplines and to foster the practical application of results;

e.       to establish appropriate relationship with other national institutions involved in training, research and development of agriculture;

f.        to identify the agricultural problems and needs of Nigeria and to find solutions to them within the context of overall national development;

g.       to provide and promote sound basic scientific training as a foundation for the development of agriculture and allied disciplines, taking into account indigenous culture, the need to enhance national unity, the need to vastly increase the adequate preparation of graduates for self-employment in agriculture and allied professions;

h.       to promote and emphasize teaching, research and extension of agricultural knowledge including agriculture extension services and out-reach programmes, in-service training, continuing education and on-farm adaptive research;

i.         to offer academic programme in relation to the training of manpower for agriculture in Nigeria;

j.         to organize research relevant to training in agriculture with emphasis on small-scale farming;

k.       to organize extension services and outreach programmes for technology transfer;

l.         to establish institutional linkages in other to foster collaboration and integration of training, research and extension activities; and

m.     to undertake any other activities appropriate for Universities of Agriculture.