By Emeka Oluka & Femi Dansu
The Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), a German Academic Exchange Service with an interest in international academic cooperation in West Africa, on November 13, 2024, paid a Courtesy Visit to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) to explore possible areas of collaboration with the University.
Welcoming the DAAD delegates led by the Director of its Regional Office in Accra, Ghana, Ms Anna-Lena Leumer, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Kola Adebayo appreciated the DAAD Team, and introduced FUNAAB in a brief presentation that captured its mandate of Teaching, Research and Extension with its affinity for Partnerships, its Mission and Vision.
Responding, Ms Anna-Lena commended FUNAAB for its far-reaching engagements, especially with other German institutions, as she singled out its Scholars Fellowship with the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
She also offered valuable advice on how FUNAAB could present itself in the face of German audiences at every given opportunity, which according to her, would go a long way as convincing.
During the meeting, possible areas of collaboration such as language, student and staff exchange, fellowships and Postdoctoral were discussed.
Present at the meeting were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olukayode Akinyemi; Registrar, Dr. Titus Adeniyi; representative of the Bursar, Mr. Vincent Egbuna; FUNAAB’s German Consulate Desk Officer, Prof. Olufemi Ojo and the DAAD Programme Officer in Nigeria, Dr. Fortune Agbele.
Others were the Director, the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, (CENTS), Prof. Emily Ayo-John; representative of the Director, Directorate of Research, Innovations and Partnerships (DRIP), Prof. Elijah Obayelu; Head of the Department, of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (AERD), Prof. Petra Abdulsalam-Saghir; Head, Office of Advancement, Mr. Johnson Olukehinde, as well as the Acting Director, Centre for Community-Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS), Dr. Shakirat Ibrahim.
