Last Updated on February 11, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Olasunkanmi Olajide & Tofunmi Adebayo
In a strategic move towards fostering international collaboration and capacity building, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), today, February 10, 2025, hosted a high-level meeting with the President and Chief Executive Officer of the African Heritage Foundation (AHF), His Excellency, Ambassador Tunde Adetunji ahead of the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) scheduled for tomorrow, February 11, 2025. The meeting served as a platform to discuss the partnership’s objectives and lay the groundwork for impactful initiatives in education, research, and sustainable development.
Speaking at the meeting held at the Conference Room of the Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment (CEADESE), the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olukayode Akinyemi, emphasised the University’s commitment to global partnerships, highlighting FUNAAB’s achievements in agricultural innovation, and sustainable development. He noted that the University had positioned itself strategically as a key driver of research and capacity building in Nigeria.
In his speech, the Director, CEADESE, Prof. Adeboye Fafiolu provided an insightful presentation on FUNAAB’s history, academic programmes, and research initiatives. He detailed the University’s efforts in entrepreneurship, agriculture, and technological advancements, underscoring the alignment between FUNAAB’s vision and the proposed partnership with AHF.
Responding, Ambassador Adetunji, also the convener of Brain Drain to Brain Gain and a distinguished international diplomat with over five decades of experience in international relations, emphasised the importance of vision, innovation, and teamwork in driving Africa’s development. He highlighted the need for Nigeria and institutions like FUNAAB to reclaim their leadership in agriculture and economic sustainability, citing historical examples such as the contributions of the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Ambassador Adetunji, also an African Union (AU) Ambassador on Education, warned against Brain Drain and economic dependency, advocating for homegrown solutions to empower Africa’s youths and intellectual resources.
Widely acknowledged for his role in facilitating Africa’s first FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa and Nigeria’s historic Gold medal win at the 1996 Olympics, Ambassador Adetunji commended the leadership of the University, saying that it’s directional, strategic and purposeful.
Discussions at the meeting centred on the key components of the MoU, which included student and faculty exchange programmes, leadership and ethics training, the establishment of an African Heritage Library and Research Centre at FUNAAB, and internship opportunities within Africa and the diaspora. Other proposed initiatives included a speaker series, promotion of human resources and capacity building for Sustainable Development, as well as platforms for business and investment collaboration to strengthen Africa’s economic landscape.
Earlier, during a Courtesy Visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kehinde reaffirmed FUNAAB’s readiness to finalise and implement the MoU, ensuring that the collaboration yields a meaningful impact. He commended AHF’s dedication to African development and expressed optimism about the future of the partnership.
With the official signing set for tomorrow, this pre-MoU engagement has set the stage for a transformative alliance between FUNAAB and the African Heritage Foundation, one that promises to bridge the gap between academia and real-world solutions while driving sustainable progress across Africa.
Present at the meeting were the Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. Festus Adeosun; Dean, College of Entrepreneurial and Development Studies (COLENDS), Prof. Olabisi Jaiyeola; Director, Institute of Communication and General Studies (ICGNS), Prof. Remilekun Aduradola and the Director, Directorate of Research, Innovations and Partnerships (DRIP), Prof. Mutiu Busari.
Others were the HoD, Animal Production and Health (APH), Prof. Lawrence Egbeyale; Prof. Babatunde Adewunmi; Prof. Adetoun Amubode; Principal Assistant Registrar, VCO, Mr. Akinkunmi Jiboku; Mrs. Yetunde Odubote and the University Legal Officer, Mrs. Olanrewaju Tanimowo, among others.
Pictures are attached below 👇
