By Olasunkanmi Olajide & Femi Dansu
The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Babatunde Kehinde on Thursday, December 28, 2023, officially launched a Career Services and Linkages Unit (CSLU) with Dr. Mathew Oose as the pioneer Coordinator.
The inaugural event took place in the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room A.
Expressing gratitude, Prof. Kehinde commended the Committee on Employability Benchmarking chaired by the Dean, College of Biosciences (COLBIOS), Prof. Iyabode Kehinde for their exemplary work.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that it was a collaborative effort between the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to enhance the employability of FUNAAB students.
He elaborated on TETFund’s invitation for training and the subsequent nomination of Prof. Iyabode Kehinde and Mr. Oluwarotimi Fasunwon for a fully sponsored session in Abuja. Their positive reports reinforced the belief in the investment value of such initiatives.
Having attended three training sessions alongside Dr. Olufunmilola Adenuga and Dr. Mathew Oose, the Vice-Chancellor said that a visit to Abuja for a TETFund Seminar revealed FUNAAB’s distinction among 26 other universities.
Prof. Kehinde, however, declared that TETFund was committed to funding the University’s CSLU, marking a significant achievement for FUNAAB.
Emphasising the collaboration between IFC and TETFund, Prof. Kehinde tasked the committee with formulating a proposal that would benefit students from 100 Level to their final year, aligning with the commitment from TETFund.
He expressed appreciation to the committee and pledged to review and implement their proposal promptly, with an assurance that the CSLU would swiftly put the ideas into action.
This according to him would involve relevant University organs, to ensure comprehensive implementation and benefit for students throughout their academic journey.
Corroborating the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Kola Adebayo emphasised the importance of students’ Facetime with the industry, stressing the relationship with the Alumni as equally necessary.
Besides, Prof. Adebayo said that the Unit could also be saddled with the management of foreign placement popularly known as Japa through the Passages Unit of the Directorate of Public Relations.
He added that when students are assisted in that regard, it behooves them to remember to give back when they are successful.
Earlier, Prof. Iyabode Kehinde had given a slide presentation on the Committee on Employability Benchmarking that midwifed the CSLU, saying that the Unit was to give academic support to FUNAAB students.
She stressed the importance of data to the newly established CSLU, noting the lack of employability data as a major challenge.
She, therefore, called for an institutional culture of gathering data, including opportunities to network with the FUNAAB Alumni.
Present at the event were the University Librarian, Dr. Abayomi Owolabi; Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. Festus Adeosun; Director, TETFund Centre of Excellence in Agriculture (TCoE), Prof. Adeboye Fafiolu; and the Deputy Registrar II, VCO, Mr. Moses Ayanda.
Others were the Principal Assistant Registrar, VCO, Mrs. Joke Oguntayo; as well as members of the Committee on Employability Benchmarking, who were Dr. Mathew Oose, Dr. Adio Akamo, Dr. Olufunmilola Adenuga, Mr. Oluwarotimi Fasunwon, and the Secretary, Mr. Jide Oduyemi.
