FUNAAB Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Resource Person, Prof. Adeniyi Olayanju has charged the University SDGs 17 Team Leads and members, as well as Academic staff in general, to take advantage of the uploading of FUNAAB documents on the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Portal to boost the ranking of the University in the next exercise.
Speaking during a meeting of FUNAAB SDGs Central Leadership Meeting with the 17 Team Leads, Prof. Olayanju admonished them and researchers, in general, to take advantage of the opening of Times Higher Education Portal to commence submission of FUNAAB- SDGs documents, in order to enhance its status in the forthcoming 2024 ranking.
He specifically identified two categories of developmental parameters and indices, which Team Leads and other researchers in the University must based their submissions on for efficient performance.
According to him, looking inward; it is imperative for the Team Leads and others to capture, utilize and effectively base their documents on the impact of the University in the areas of research, stewardship, outreach and teaching, in line with the SDGs.
According to him, the UN-Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1-17 – Thinking Global) are:
Sdg 1- No Poverty;
Sdg 2- Zero Hunger;
Sdg 3- Good Health and Wellbeing;
Sdg 4- Quality Education;
Sdg 5- Gender Equality;
Sdg 6- Clean Water and Sanitation;
Sdg 7- Affordable and Clean Energy;
Sdg 8- Decent Work and Economic Growth;
Sdg 9- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure;
Sdg10- Reduced Inequality;
Sdg 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities;
Sdg 12- Responsible Consumption and Production;
Sdg 13- Climate Action;
Sdg 14- Life Below Water;
Sdg 15- Life On Land;
Sdg 16- Peace,Justice and Strong Institution and Sdg 17 – Partnership for the Goals.
He emphasized the need for all hands to be on deck, to boost the ranking of FUNAAB, nationally, continentally and globally.
Prof. Olayanju whose previous leadership role in driving SDGs oriented ranking of Universities as Vice – Chancellor of Landmark Universiity Omu – Aran, Kwara State earned the institution 5th place in Times Higher Education World-SDGs Impact Ranking of Nigerian Universities, pointed out that to achieve a better feat in FUNAAB, it is important for Team Leads and Researchers in the University to upload FUNAAB documents in Times Higher Education Portal.
FUNAAB SDGs-Resource Person further charged academic staff to henceforth ensure they hashtag their papers or lectures they are presenting as Speakers at Conferences, Workshops, Trainings, Departmental lectures and Inaugural Lectures of the University, among others.
The pioneer Vice – Chancellor of Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja FCT enjoined them not to only hashtag their intellectual properties but more importantly, link them with relevant bodies, such as UN SDGs, Times Higher Education, FUNAAB SDGs, FUNAAB Website or better still, contact him, Team Leads and ICTREC Director, among others for proper understanding of the technicality, in order to achieve the desired effect on the University ranking.
Prof. Olayanju who was the pioneer Dean of Engineering while on sabbatical leave appointment in Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igbo – Ora, Oyo State (2013-2014) commended FUNAAB Researchers, describing them as outstanding in the Ivory Towers, pointing out that the University is endowed with the much needed human resources ditto the attendant exceptional clout and acumen to consistently be a force to reckon with if the resources are pulled and pooled together to harness for better result.
The Professor of Agricultural Mechanization, therefore solicited for the unflinching support and unalloyed cooperation of members of the University Community, especially Researchers towards sustain research efforts and making it available consistently for the utilization of FUNAAB SDGs, to boost the ranking of the University.
The former Dean of Student Affairs, FUNAAB pleaded passionately with members of the University Community, especially academic staff not to see the drive towards exploring SDGs to boost the University’s ranking as exclusive preserve of FUNAAB SDGs team but rather to see it as a collective responsibility towards achieving global visibility for the institution.
Prof. Olayanju whose sense of humour enlivened the meeting thus generating infectious rounds of laughter spiced with “oohing’ and ‘aahing’ of Team Leads and members at the meeting held at ICTREC Seminar Room, expatiated that “This is the more reason why FUNAAB SDGs dispatched correspondences to Heads of various arms of the University” notifying them well ahead of time that the SDGs team leaders or members will be coming to solicit for their inputs while equally appealing to them to kindly cooperate with them whenever they are contacted.
Meanwhile, Prof. Olayanju has charged SDGs Team Leads and members to work together assiduously as a team, in order to achieve the goals of the group.
He stated that since the Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde- led Management has provided the much needed enabling atmosphere for them to thrive, the onus now lies on them to come together and work tirelessly for a better ranking of the University.
Directing his gaze at his audience, Prof. Olayanju reverberated with gusto, declaring that “It is not enough that we are doing something but to ensure that we are doing it correctly”.
He tasked them on the need to overcome the challenges of pioneering the utilization of SDGs to enhance FUNAAB ranking, stressing that the barrier of being a starter is always a challenge in any human endeavour, admonishing them to brace up and rise above it.
Prof. Olayanju commended FUNAAB SDGs team for their unwavering commitment and die -hard dedication, saying it is amazing that they have covered quite a quantum of ground within the short spate of their engagement.
He thanked them for making the job of leadership easier for him with their understanding and team spirit, praying God to reward their selfless service to the University and humanity, as a whole, bountifully.
The University Don reminded his team that SDGs is continuum but University ranking is a yearly exercise, urging them to work together more than before, in order to realise the goal of making FUNAAB a world class.
Prof. Olayanju thanked the Vice – Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde and his team profusely for making his team assignment easier with his SDGs oriented achievements.
He described the Vice – Chancellor as a great leader who inspired FUNAAB SDGs team with focused leadership, foresight and steady support, which according to him has been the bedrock and propeller of the team’s drive.
Prof. Olayanju also expressed gratitude to all the Non-Teaching Staff serving as Secretaries and in other relevant positions in FUNAAB SDGs.
He prayed God to grant FUNAAB a pride of place in the forthcoming Times Higher Education Ranking of Universities and subsequently.
Team leads enthusiastically briefed the group as a whole on the level of preparedness and commitment towards taking the advantage of the opening of the portal to boost the ranking of the University.
