Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike was established by Decree No. 48 of 1992. The first set of 82 undergraduate students was admitted into the Institution in the 1993/94 academic session. At the end of 2005/2006, the undergraduate students’ population rose to 3,612 while the postgraduate students’ population rose from 41 in 1997/98 to 476 in 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 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 philosophy of the University leans heavily on the provision of a strategic vehicle for the attainment of the major goals of the National Agricultural Policy, namely self-sufficiency in food and fibre. The mission of the University is to provide high quality practical training to students to enable them become professionally competent and confident farmers capable of self-employment, to develop environmentally-friendly and people-sensitive technologies and to enhance the well-being of the people through extension and other interventions. Its vision is to be the foremost institution for producing highly-rated graduates in Agriculture, Science and Technology, by providing knowledge through which food and security of the nation will be assured.

The University has its own share of the myriad of problems plaguing Nigerian Universities. These problems arise from both internal and external challenges, including inadequate funding, facilities and services’ poor ICT, inconsistent government policies on University administration, conditions of service and industrial relations, lack of private sector and stakeholders’ support, weak linkage, poor security, lack of access to acquired land due to non-payment of compensation, etc. However, the strengths of the University lie in its crop of committed staff, high quality academic programmes, rising students’ interest in programmes of the University, focused University administration, high morale and friendly disposition of the staff and a serene and conducive environment for teaching, learning and research. The University also has considerable opportunities for continued growth and development.

This Strategic Plan is a response to the challenges, strengths and opportunities afore-mentioned. It is a road map to the University’s future in the next five years. It is the first since the University started and is the product of a collective effort of the University administration, staff and some other stakeholders. The major objectives of the Plan are:

• Strengthening University Governance
• Expansion and Strengthening of the Academic Base of the University
• Enthronement of a functional, sustainable, excellence-driven and productive Research and Extension Culture
• Improvement in Physical and Infrastructural Facilities
• University Advancement (University Ethics and Culture, Linkages, etc)
• Improvement in Municipal Services
• Revenue Generation