The Deputy Public Affairs Officer, United States Consulate General, Lagos, Mrs. Jennifer Foltz on October 7, 2021 lauded the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, (FUNAAB), Ogun State for being an amazing institution with great national impact.
She disclosed this at the Fulbright Programme’s 75th Anniversary Lectures organised by the University in collaboration with the US Consulate General, Lagos, Nigeria titled “Applying for the US Government Fully Funded Fulbright Programs in Nigeria: Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program”, held at the Oluwafemi Balogun Ceremonial Building.
Mrs. Foltz stated that agriculture is an important sector of the economy with high potential of employment generation, poverty reduction and food security, adding that Nigeria is a blessed nation having a beautiful campus like FUNAAB with large arable land and favourable weather condition.
She further stated that “Over the past 10 years the US Government had a long-term engagement with African youths for a wide ranging efforts. The intent of the engagement was to advance the US access to the youth population and increase their potential to contribute to economic, political and social development all over the continent. No nation can survive if they neglect to input the youths in the economic performance, wealth creation, poverty alleviation and governance.”
According to her, the goal of the United States is to employ young people to solve their own problems and have a voice in the future of their countries by creating jobs, promoting investment, business financing, flexibility in market access and creating government policy for businesses to fly.
Mrs. Foltz appreciated the University Management for collaborating with US Consulate General in Lagos to make the Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Programme possible, even as she commended the Fulbright alumni for sharing their experiences to others on how to apply for Fulbright Scholarship Programme.
Earlier in his Opening Address, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Felix Kolawole Salako lauded the team from the US Consulate General in Lagos for choosing FUNAAB as one of the Universities to visit during the commemoration of the 75th anniversary, adding that it was a great milestone for Fulbright to celebrate 75 years of goal impact.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Professor Bolanle Akeredolu-Ale, the Vice-Chancellor commended the Fulbright alumni who are beneficiaries of the Fulbright programme for the visibility they are giving FUNAAB, noting that he hoped that more members of staff would have the opportunity to enjoy the scholarship in the future.
He added that as a research-based institution, the University looks forward to more partnership and opportunities with the US Consulate, saying that FUNAAB as a University of Agriculture keeps making sure the students are trained to become agricultural entrepreneurs and the University Administration is happy that many FUNAAB graduates are already giving back to the University.
