Last Updated on April 22, 2026 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Olaoye Oyewole & Tayo Onayemi
The Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), today, April 15, 2026, organised a staff development training series to strengthen professionalism, institutional awareness, and service delivery among its personnel.
The training, themed “AMREC Overview and Job Ethics,” brought together staff of the Centre for capacity building and strategic repositioning.
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Olawale Dairo, represented by the Director, Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), Prof. Kazeem Bello, emphasised the need for genuine revitalisation of AMREC. He described revitalisation as restoring purpose and energy to the system, noting that the Centre remains the University’s third arm alongside teaching and research, and must be repositioned for greater impact. He identified key strategies to include addressing inefficiencies, preserving institutional values, embracing innovation, and strengthening personnel capacity.
Earlier in his Welcome Address, the Director, AMREC, Prof. Jacob Olaoye, described the training as a platform for accountability, performance evaluation, and strategic growth. He reiterated the Centre’s critical role in linking research, communication, and community engagement to tackle agricultural challenges, including food security and sustainable development.
Delivering the first lecture titled “AMREC Work Ethics: Building a Strong Foundation for Success,” Prof. Christian Ikeobi, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, defined work ethics as the values and principles guiding workplace behaviour. He stressed that strong ethical standards, such as honesty, punctuality, competence, respect, and dedication are essential for organisational success, while discouraging unproductive practices like “eye service.” He also highlighted FUNAAB’s recognition at an international agricultural engagement involving Nigerian delegates to China as a testament to its ethical standards.
In the second lecture, the Deputy Director of AMREC, Prof. Olalekan Oyekunle, provided an overview of the Centre’s structure and operations. He noted that AMREC operates with an independent board, supported by a Management Committee, administrative units, and five core programmes. He emphasised the importance of the Extension and Adaptive Research Programme in bridging the gap between research and practice through the testing and dissemination of innovations to farmers across Southwest Nigeria.
Speaking on AMREC’s mandate, Prof. Oluwakemi Irehkore explained that the Centre, established in 1991, serves as the University’s extension arm for the Southwest region. She highlighted its key activities, including diagnostic and market surveys, technology demonstration, capacity building, community interventions, extension communication, youth engagement, and gender-focused initiatives aimed at sustainable agricultural development.
In a Goodwill Message by the Dean, College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development (COLAMRUD), Prof. Emmanuel Fakoya, who was represented by the Deputy Dean, Dr. Chioma Adekunle commended the initiative, describing it as timely and essential for enhancing staff understanding of job ethics and institutional responsibilities.
The training concluded with a renewed commitment by staff to uphold strong work ethics, promote teamwork, and advance AMREC’s mandate in sustainable agricultural development.
