Last Updated on October 31, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide

By Femi Dansu & Bolanle Olawepo

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming academic research into practical innovations that meet national and international standards. This commitment was brought to the fore as the University, in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), organised a public lecture aimed at advancing the standardisation of research products and deepening synergy among universities, industries, and manufacturers.

The lecture, themed “Standardisation of Research Products and University Collaboration with Industry and Manufacturers,” held today, October 28, 2025, at the Red Chamber, underscored FUNAAB’s drive towards ensuring that its research outputs contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic development through quality assurance and technological advancement.

Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olukayode Akinyemi, commended SON for its consistent role in ensuring product quality and compliance with established standards across Nigeria.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that research outcomes from universities can only have a tangible impact when they meet global benchmarks, stressing that collaboration with SON would enable FUNAAB researchers and innovators to align with industry needs and regulatory frameworks. He added that such partnerships were crucial in transforming laboratory results into market-ready innovations capable of driving national growth and industrialisation.

Delivering the lecture, the State Coordinator of SON, Ogun State Office II, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, highlighted the statutory functions of the Organisation, established under Act No. 56 of 1971 and strengthened by Act No. 14 of 2015. He explained that SON was responsible for developing and enforcing standards, promoting quality assurance, and ensuring product conformity through metrology and laboratory testing.

Mr Shittu listed SON’s key functions, including developing standards for products, materials, and services; promoting these standards locally and globally; conducting conformity assessments; and advising the government on standardisation-related matters. He further noted that SON maintains active membership in international bodies such as the International Organisation for Standardisation, the African Organisation for Standardisation, and the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX).

According to him, standardisation enhances product quality, safety, and competitiveness while facilitating global trade. He encouraged researchers to adopt SON’s frameworks for product certification and management systems, adding that such alignment would make university research more commercially viable.

The lecture also explored strategies for enhancing university–industry collaboration, including joint research initiatives, human capital exchange, and integration of industry standards into academic curricula. Mr. Shittu stressed that these collaborations would enhance innovation, strengthen research impact, and produce graduates equipped with industry-relevant skills.

According to him, he emphasised that the standardisation of research products remained critical to ensuring reliability, safety, and large-scale production, ultimately boosting Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

Photos are attached below 👇

Credit: Bolanle Olawepo