The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, has charged newly-admitted students to be disciplined and hardworking, noting that the University has zero tolerance for indiscipline, laziness and other vices. Stating these, at the 2016/2017 Academic Session Orientation Programme for Fresh Students, Professor Oyewole, noted that the University was committed to producing graduates, who are worthy in learning, character and are academically-sound. He pointed out that the orientation programme was strictly designed to intimate students with the rules, regulations, culture and important information that would enhance their success in the University.
Speaking on the history of University, the Registrar, Mr. Mathew Ayoola, said the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), formerly known as the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB), was established on January 8, 1988 by the Federal Government and that through its relentless efforts, the University had earned the following accolades: Best University in Nigeria in 2005 by the National Universities Commission (NUC); NUC’s first place prize as the Best Research University (2004 & 2005); Best University in Nigeria, October 2008 by the Industrial Training Fund; Best University for the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES); winner of the Maiden Award at the First National Mathematics Competition; and designation as the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence in Agriculture, among others.
Mr. Ayoola, who disclosed that the University runs a collegiate system, stated that initially, five Colleges were introduced into the University in October 1988 and was later increased to nine, while adding that one of the nine Colleges; College of Natural Sciences (COLNAS), was split into two, increasing the total number of Colleges in the University to 10.In a presentation on the “Importance of University Education and Expectations of University Students”, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Catherine Eromosele, who was represented by the Dean, Student Affairs Division, Professor Adeniyi Olayanju, stated that the knowledge acquired from university education was transformational; creating a more refined individual with an analytical mind and the ability to be a problem-solver. Professor Olayanju also represented the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Professor Ololade Enikuomehin, at the event, to make his presentation titled; “Adaption of University Knowledge to Self-Development”, where the students were charged to be open-minded and be versatile in their quest for knowledge and development, stressing that no knowledge was a waste.
Speaking on the topic “Students’ Involvement in Social Activities on Campus”, the Dean, Student Affairs stated that every human being has a triune nature namely – spirit, body and soul – which should be properly developed for them to become complete individuals. He advised that, as a spirit, students should be involved in religious and activities; as a soul or mind, they should be involved in social or academic activities, to develop their souls, such as belonging to Departmental and College associations, Students’ Union activities and other legally-recognised clubs such as the Red Cross, Man O’ War, FUNAAB Drama Troupe, Boys’ Brigade and Road Safety; while as a body, they should be engaged in physical development by exercising, observing good hygiene and eating balanced diet. The Dean further encouraged the students to endeavour to keep themselves busy and productively engage themselves at all times, warning that an idle hand is the devil’s workshop.
The University Librarian, Dr. Mulikat Salaam, who was represented by Mr. Wasiu Lawal, enlightened the fresh students on the use of the library and the various facilities they could benefit from such, like the 24-hour library services. She disclosed that the library was like any other standard organisation that had its own rules and regulations, as she charged the students to abide by the relevant library rules. On Students’ Union activities, the immediate past President of the FUNAAB Students’ Union, Comrade Dennis Nwenonye, stated that activities of FUNAABSU were different and unique because thuggery and any other social ills are not allowed. “Here, we practice sensible student unionism”, as he admonished the fresh students to abide by stipulated rules and regulations, regularly visit the Office of the Dean, Student Affairs as well as FUNAABSU, for necessary questions, answers and clarifications.
The Principal Assistant Registrar, Guidance and Counselling, Mrs. Modesta Ofodile, in her presentation on, “Decent Dressing and Image of the University”, disclosed that the University attached great importance to decent dressing, because it believes that an individual’s mode of dressing adds value to his/her personality, self-confidence and self-worth. Defining dressing as the art of wearing clothes, the Principal Assistant Registrar described what constitutes ideal dressing to “include clothing neatly made, moderately fitting and long, covering the upper and lower torso. Hairstyles neatly cut or made fitting, moderate, not flamboyant or constituting disturbance to the user or the public, as well as the footwear that is neat, smart, easy for mobility, strong and comfortable while make-ups should be moderately done”. She enjoined the students to take their studies seriously, in order to make good grades at the end of their courses and shun defiant behaviours. Mrs. Bolanle Olaleye and Mrs. Modesta Ofodile, who spoke on; “Effective Method of Studying in the University, Cult Activities and Other Self-Defeating Behaviours of Students on Campus”, called on the students to pay absolute attention to their studies.
Mrs. Olaleye identified the reasons for poor academic performance, to be include; poor time management, misuse of modern technology, absenteeism, procrastination, studying of irrelevant materials, lackadaisical attitude and studying in places of distraction, while Mrs. Ofodile described cultism as self-defeating behaviour, which could have adverse effects on the lives of people. She charged the students to secure their future by not yielding to the deceptive lies and tricks that cultists often use to lure people away. To buttress the dangers of cultism, a true-life experience was shared by a renounced cultist, Evangelist Daniel Osita, who described cultism as a world of darkness that leaves victims with nothing at the end of the day, but only regrets.
On her part, the Deputy Registrar II, Senate and Admissions, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Dawodu, gave the students useful tips on course registration, rules, regulations, course unit system and the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) grading in the University. She charged the students to give priority to their studies during their early years, because at the end, all prescribed courses would be computed as the final CGPA, for degree classifications.
Other speakers include the Acting Director of Sports, Dr. Samuel Olabanji, who tasked the students not to hide their talents, but should come to the FUNAAB Sports’ Centre, to display such, which could earn them success in life, while Mrs. Adesumbo Laniyan of the Service Compact With All Nigerians (SERVICOM) Unit of the University, informed the students that they deserved to be served rightly and that they should not hesitate to report any observations that bordered on service failure, using the complaint boxes on campus.
The Director, FUNAAB Bureau of Transportation (FUNAABOT), Dr. Ismaila Salami, reeled out the rules and regulations guiding the operations of the students’ buses and the proper conduct that is expected of the students, while boarding any of the buses. On security matters, the Assistant Chief Environmental Officer, Mr. Bolarinwa Peters, noted that there were likely security threats everywhere. He, therefore, charged the students to be security conscious, avoid going to dangerous places, especially at nights, while a representative of the Bursary Department, Mr. Oloyede Azeez, educated the fresh students on how to make the various payments, from the College level, through the College Accountants and other payments, using the online system, put in place by the University.
Speaking on the “Importance of Examinations and Records Unit in the University”, the Principal Assistant Registrar/Head of the Unit, Mr. Moses Ayanda, admonished the students that, while filling forms to be submitted, they should make sure that adequate and correct information were stated, as failure could cost them their studentship. In her presentation titled, “Listening Skill”, a lecturer in the Communication and General Studies Department (CGNS), Dr. Abosede Sotiloye, charged the students to listen more and speak less, noting that listening is not the same as hearing, which involves the active participation of the receiver. She described listening as an important aspect of effective communication, adding that it was the ability to hear, identify and understand what had been said.
Delivering a lecture titled, “Sustaining FUNAAB’s Beautiful Environment”, the Coordinator, Directorate of Environmental Management (DEM), Mr. Babafunso Idowu, highlighted the regulations that the students should abide with while in the University, saying that they were not to cross the lawn; always use the comfort stations and desist from littering the environment. He added that the University was using a whopping sum of money to maintain the environment annually, as he urged the students to help preserve it.
Enlightening the freshers on what the Information and Communications Resource Centre (ICTREC) was doing, the former Head, Deputy Director, Dr. Olutayo Ajayi, said that the processes of Continuing Assessment Tests (CATs) and examinations were computerised, from the point of admission up to the point of semester results. In his presentation, the Acting Director, University Health Services, Dr. Abiodun Amusan, stated that the University had put in place, remarkable efforts to provide sound health services on campus, adding that students had also been adequately protected under health insurance scheme.
The representative of the Directorate of Public Relations, Mrs. Rosemary Egbuonu, disclosed that the basic function of the Directorate was to maintain mutual understanding between the University and its internal and external stakeholders. She urged the students to be conscious of their actions because they are also involved in public relations, directly or indirectly. In her lecture, the representative of the Director, Directorate of Technologists and Technical Staff (DITTECS) and the Chief Laboratory Scientist, Mrs. Kemi Fashina, charged the students to be punctual at practicals, adding that laboratory safety was key to reducing injury and illness, as she noted that there were many exposures in the laboratory that posed serious health hazards. 
The Director, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), Professor Adewale Dipeolu, charged the fresh students to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the Centre to develop skills outside their core-courses of study in the University. Professor Dipeolu encouraged the students to build themselves by learning a skill, which could be their source of livelihood in future. He listed some of the skills available at CENTS to include tailoring, shoe-making, artwork, catering, events planning, fisheries, agriculture and modeling, among others.
Issues relating to hostel and accommodation matters were not left out, as the Hall Wardens; Professor Taofeek Shittu and Dr. Remi Aduradola, enlightened the students while the Student Affairs’ Division, represented by Mr. Segun Ogunyemi, reeled-out the relevant University rules and regulations, as matters bothering on sexual life, chastity, coping with peer pressure and counselling services, were also highlighted at the occasion. Meanwhile, the FUNAAB Theatre Troupe presented a drama titled; titled “Life on Campus” at the orientation programme.
