The Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings has ranked Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) as the Second (2nd) Best University in Nigeria and Twenty Sixth (26th) in Sub-Sahara Africa.
The feat is a major leap towards realising FUNAAB’s dream of becoming a World-Class University.
The Seventh (7th) Substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde had during his Investiture said in his speech that the ultimate goal of his Administration is to make FUNAAB a 21st Century University.
Barely three months in office, a giant stride towards achieving the dream was recorded on Monday, June 26, 2023 in the annals of history of the University as Times Higher Education rated FUNAAB as the Second best University in Nigeria and 26th in Sub-Sahara Africa out of 1,021 Universities selected in the continent.
The feat was announced at the unveiling ceremony of Times Higher Education, held in Ghana, while the leader of the nation’s delegation to the event, Prof. Peter Okebukola, in his official capacity as Chairman, Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC) broke the news to the media on Tuesday, June 27,2023
The media is already awashed with the news of impressive performance of FUNAAB and other Universities in the latest ranking.
According to Times Higher Education, the aim of the body is to “Assess the impact of universities in addressing some of the toughest challenges faced in the region”
The body explained further: “We used carefully calliberated indicators to provide comprehensive and balanced comparisons across three vital areas: teaching, research and societal impact”.
Times Higher Education added, “The data include results from the first Sub-Saharan Africa Students Survey, which gathered the opinions of more than 20,000 students”.
According to the breakdown of the ranking, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa emerged the best University in Sub-Saharan Africa and it was followed by University of Johannesburg, South Africa and Muhimbele University of Health and Allied Sciences also in South Africa.
Narrowing to Nigeria, The Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings ranked Convenant University, Ota, Ogun State as First in Nigeria and 7th in Africa, followed by Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) rated 2nd in Nigeria and 26th in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Anambra State is ranked 3rd in Nigeria and 31st in Sub-Saharan Africa; Redeemer University, Ede, Osun State is rated 4th in Nigeria and 35th in Sub-Saharan Africa while the Premier University, University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State is ranked 5th in Nigeria and 36th in Sub-Saharan Africa.
As a matter of fact, FUNAAB’s feat in this latest ranking justifiably calls for celebration, moreso that the institution rose from 9th position in the last ranking of Universities in Nigeria to the 2nd best in the latest ranking.
More befitting is the fact that FUNAAB has improved its status in Sub-Saharan Africa by emerging the 26th best University in Africa out of 1,021 institutions selected by Times Higher Education Sub-Sahara Africa University Ranking in 2023
It would be recalled, that the survey for the ranking was conducted during the tenure of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Christian Ikeobi who is still in office, when Prof. Iyabode Kehinde was the Director of Directorate of Academic Planning, dove taling to the period of her successor, Prof. Kola Adebayo who is now Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development).
This is great. To God be the glory, and deep appreciation to the University Governing Council, Management, Senate, Academic Staff. Non-Teaching Staff, Students and stakeholders, at large for their unwavering commitment and dedication towards this success.
FUNAAB Bulletin congratulates Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde-led Management, Senate, Staff, Students, the entire University Community and stakeholders, in general on this monumental and landslide feat in the chequered history of the University.
