Capacity Building: CACORP, Teva Foods Partner to Turn UNIZIK Students to Millionaire Farmers

By Olisemeka Obeche

The Centre for Agripreneur and Cooperative Research/Practice (CACORP), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in collaboration with Teva Foods Limited, has unveiled its action plan to turn students of the school to millionaire entrepreneurial farmers under its Sustainable Veggie Farming initiative.

The center unveiled the plan during its inaugural Capacity Building Workshop held on Friday, 6th February 2026, inside the Board Room of the Faculty of Management Sciences, UNIZIK, Awka under the theme: “Sustainable Veggie Farming: Turning Your Ideas into Harvest.”
UNIZIK’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Stanley Bond Anyaehie, who declared the capacity building workshop open, hailed Dr Nma Okechukwu Okoroji, the pioneer Director of CACORP, for attracting such initiative aimed at exposing students to entrepreneurial ideas and practices.

Prof. Anyaehie who announced plans to establish farm and Agro Business company for UNIZIK to ensure full and productive utilization of the university’s 350 hectares of land, also expressed his commitment to adopting innovative technologies, particularly greenhouse farming by the school as part of its agricultural revolution initiative.

He identified Teva Foods as a key strategic partner in advancing agriculture in the university and south eastern region.
In her welcome address, Dr Nma Okechukwu Okoroji stressed the importance of the capacity building workshop to the students, teachers and management of the school as well as the nation.

She noted that vegetable production, which CACORP was championing, has transformed into a vibrant economic sector capable of generating employment, enhancing nutrition, and driving value chains.

“Our goal is to place Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, on the global map through CACORP activities and agricultural projects at our one-hectare farmland on the main campus, where we grow vegetables and other crops, and the 20 hectares at Umueje, where we cultivate coconut and plantain.

“This maiden capacity-building program reflects CACORP’s vision and mission to transform knowledge into practical, profitable, and sustainable agribusiness outcomes. We plan to sustain this initiative quarterly.

Dr Okoroji urged students and participants to view agriculture not merely as an academic subject but as a platform for wealth creation, societal service, and national transformation.

“Agripreneurship is not about returning to the past; it is about building the future by applying intelligence, creativity, and technology to produce value. Whether through vegetable cultivation, processing, marketing, or logistics, there is room for your ideas to develop into sustainable livelihoods.”
She humorously noted that “Agriculture teaches patience because you cannot plant tomatoes today and harvest stew tomorrow.” This truth serves to remind us that productivity and prosperity require time, discipline, and commitment.

She further expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor for approving the workshop and welcomed distinguished guests, including High Chief Arthur Mbuba, State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Anambra State; Dr Foster Ihejiofor, Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Anambra State; Mr Christian Udechukwu, Honourable Commissioner for Industry, Anambra State; and Mr Chima Christian, Co-Founder/CEO of Teva Foods, Jos.
Mr Chima Christian, the CEO of Teva Foods, the facilitator of the workshop, emphasized that creativity, innovative ideas, and realistic plans are essential for unlocking opportunities in agro-business.

While arguing that Nigeria’s main challenge is not a shortage of land, but rather the underutilization of its resources, he stressed that UNIZIK’s 350 hectares of unused land could be leveraged to create a strong agricultural productive value chain aimed at eradicating poverty across the nation.

Even as he took participants through the simple and strategic process of smart farming that students can take advantage of, Mr. Christian announced that, Teva Foods would be offering startup capital of ₦500,000 to five students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka as a result of its partnership with CACORP aimed at producing millionaire agripreneurs in the school. To qualify for the funding, participating students must present a plot of land they own, along with a viable business plan.

“This initiative encourages students to take immediate action on their entrepreneurial ideas”, he remarked.

Engr. Christian Ekeh represented High Chief Arthur Mbuba, the Anambra State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Abuja, described the workshop as timely, particularly as it provides an opportunity for the youth to channel their energy and ideas into enterprises aimed at eliminating poverty.

Anambra Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Forster Ihejiofor, who also spoke during the event highlighted the need for youths to cue into the smart ideas provided by the Teva Foods CEO for successful and sustainable Agripreneurship.

He stressed the need for young entrepreneurs to use their skills, service and trustworthiness as asset to generate capital for their sustainable investment and growth.

“Your access to money depends on you. There is so much money out there. There is no scarcity, whatsoever,” he said drawing from his personal experience as a young graduate who was able to mobilize capital to fund his business opportunity due to trust.

The workshop included a practical field session at CACORP’s demonstration farm, near, VC’s Gate Inside UNIZIK. Workshop attendees were Prof. Pius V. C. Okoye, Prof. Francis O. Nwankwo, Prof. Titus C. Okeke, Prof. I.D. O Chilokwu, Prof. Felix Echekoba, Prof. Nkechi Ojiagu, Prof. Ogochukwu T. Ibeneme from the Department of Technical Education; Prof. Nkiru T. Meludo, Immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture; Dr Ogochukwu Okafor, HOD of the Department of Cooperative Economics and Management and others.