Last Updated on May 10, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Tofunmi Adebayo & Aduragbemi Oke
The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, has once again expressed the University’s strong interest in forging strategic academic partnerships that would enhance FUNAAB’s global visibility and research output. This commitment was made clear today, May 6, 2025, during a Courtesy Visit to the Vice-Chancellor by the representatives of the renowned international publishing firm, Taylor & Francis Group.
Welcoming the delegation to the University, the Vice-Chancellor underscored the importance of collaborative engagements with reputable academic publishers like Taylor & Francis. He noted that such partnerships would not only broaden access to scholarly resources but also boost the international profile of FUNAAB’s research contributions.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, FUNAAB was committed to building bridges with global institutions and platforms that can support the mission of academic excellence, innovation, and knowledge dissemination. He noted that the University was excited about the opportunities the collaboration presented, especially in enriching the research community and expanding digital access for staff and students.
Earlier, the University Librarian, Prof. Abayomi Owolabi, had warmly received the visiting team at the ‘Nimbe Adedipe Library (NAL), highlighting the timeliness of the engagement, especially in the context of the African Month celebrations. He stressed the evolving nature of academic publishing and the need to empower researchers with the tools and knowledge to succeed in the digital age. Prof. Owolabi also encouraged staff and students to take full advantage of upcoming seminars and capacity-building sessions to be facilitated by the publishing group.
Leading the delegation, Mr. Ramaswamy Seshadri, Regional Sales Director for Taylor & Francis, expressed appreciation for the University’s hospitality and reiterated the group’s readiness to support FUNAAB in advancing scholarly work. He outlined several possible areas of collaboration, including co-authoring of academic books, publication of journal articles, and the hosting of publishing workshops. Mr. Seshadri also proposed the creation of a bespoke online portal for the Library to showcase its academic works.
Echoing the same sentiment, Ms. Sally Grove, Taylor & Francis Press Representative for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, affirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting African universities. She noted that the partnership would provide expanded access to high-quality academic content and valuable publishing support for researchers.
As part of the visit, the guests were given a guided tour of the Nimbe Adedipe Library’s facilities, with particular attention to its digital learning infrastructure and research support services.
Impressed by the University’s academic environment and forward-looking vision, the Taylor & Francis team reaffirmed their interest in building a sustainable and impactful partnership with FUNAAB.
Taylor & Francis Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom, is a leading global publisher of academic journals and books.
Photos are attached below 👇
Credit: Tofunmi Adebayo
