Last Updated on August 1, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide

By Olasunkanmi Olajide

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), through its International Centre for Professional Development (ICPD), has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) to bolster Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capacity and drive economic growth in Nigeria.

The ICPD, FUNAAB, which maintains affiliations with reputable academic and industrial partners across Europe, Asia, and the United States, was established to deliver professional training and experiential learning opportunities tailored for youths, professionals, and emerging business leaders.

ASCON, a juristic entity established by Decree No. 39 of 1973 (now ASCON Act CAP 6 Vol. I, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990), is mandated to provide training, research, and consultancy services for public and private sector stakeholders in Nigeria. The institution, headquartered in Topo, Badagry, Lagos State, is renowned for its commitment to enhancing the administrative efficiency of Nigeria’s workforce.

The agreement between both institutions was aimed at fostering strategic collaboration to enhance human capital development through customised IT training and certification programmes. The partnership is expected to support the professional growth of public officers and private sector practitioners, thereby strengthening the overall ICT sector in Nigeria.

While welcoming the ASCON delegation to the University, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, emphasised the importance of maintaining a stable and peaceful academic environment. He noted that despite national and global challenges, FUNAAB has sustained uninterrupted academic sessions, which he attributed to the institution’s innovative and proactive leadership.

Earlier, the Director-General of ASCON, Mrs. Funke Femi Adepoju, expressed her excitement at the partnership, noting that resilience, human connection, and community development are critical pathways to success. She lauded FUNAAB’s progressive outlook and expressed optimism that the collaboration would yield far-reaching benefits for national development.

Present at the ceremony were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Prof. Olawale Dairo; Registrar, Dr. Titus Adeniyi; Head, ICPD, Mr. Lawrence Kazeem; Prof. Richard Sobayo and the Principal Assistant Registrar, Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Mrs. Olubusayo Oguntayo, as well as several top officials of ASCON.