FUNAAB’s Pro-Chancellor Advocates Strengthened Support for Specialised Universities

Published On:

December 20, 2024

Last Updated on January 3, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide


By Olasunkanmi Olajide

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi, Odundun IV, Asoludero, has called for enhanced and tailored support for specialised universities in Nigeria. He made this appeal recently, during an interactive meeting with the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, held at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.

Addressing the gathering, which included Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities, Oba Olabomi highlighted key challenges facing specialised institutions like FUNAAB, which included limited admissions capacity, inadequate staffing, and the lack of robust legal frameworks to preserve their specialisation focus.

The Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa (Left) welcoming the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, HRM, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi, Odundun IV, Asoludero to the Interactive Session in Abuja

The Pro-Chancellor expressed concern over the overlapping academic offerings between specialised and conventional universities, stressing that such duplications undermine the mission of Federal Universities of Agriculture. “Courses we offer in specialised universities are also offered by conventional universities, leading to undue competition. We need the Ministry’s support to ensure that conventional universities do not duplicate our core programmes. This will foster true specialisation and allow us to expand our capacity effectively,” he said.

Oba Olabomi also decried the staffing challenges plaguing FUNAAB, worsened by the brain drain (“japa syndrome”) and bureaucratic hurdles in recruitment. “Our last employment was five years ago, yet we lose staff almost monthly. Without the power to hire, we are left relying on casual staff,” he noted. He urged the Ministry to streamline recruitment processes and address these bottlenecks.

Speaking further, the Pro-Chancellor proposed the establishment of a peer review mechanism among universities to foster collaboration and systemic improvements. “A structured peer review system would enable universities to share best practices and address challenges collectively,” he suggested.

The Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa with the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, HRM, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi and other Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities of Agriculture after the Interactive Session

The Aragbiji, therefore, expressed gratitude for the government’s recent N1 billion allocation to Federal Universities of Agriculture for mechanised farming, citing FUNAAB’s Graduate Farming Scheme as a prime example of leveraging such support. “We have 10,000 hectares of land, and with financial support, we can cultivate at least half to significantly contribute to food security,” he said. He, however, appealed for additional funding to address land-clearing challenges.

The interactive session, which provided a platform for dialogue and brainstorming, saw FUNAAB’s Pro-Chancellor represent Federal Universities of Agriculture among the 12 Pro-Chancellors selected to present.

In his response, the Honourable Minister of Education reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting universities. He announced plans to allocate N1 billion to each Federal University of Agriculture for mechanised farming and N17 billion to 18 medical schools to enhance training for healthcare professionals.

The session concluded with a resolution to institutionalise regular biannual engagements between the Ministry, Pro-Chancellors, and Vice-Chancellors to align on strategies for education reform and drive the Ministry’s six-point agenda.

Author

  • Olasunkanmi Olajide

    Mr. Olajide is a seasoned professional with over a decade of expertise in the fields of Public Relations, Media and Communications. He currently holds the position of Assistant Director, Media.

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