Smarting from its latest ranking as the best Public Institution in Nigeria, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has taken another bold step towards becoming a World – Class University with the inauguration of the institution’s Sustainable Development Goals Times Higher Education Impact Ranking Team.

The Vice – Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde Inaugurated the seventeen (17) SDGS Team leaders, their Secretaries and Central Working Committee.

Inaugurating the Team, the Vice – Chancellor described it as a fulfillment of his desire towards making FUNAAB remarkably visible in global ranking of Universities.

Prof. Kehinde pointed out that the implementation of the SDGS is germane to the existence of the University because it’s in line with the tripodal mandate of the University, especially the third mandate which borders on extension service delivery.

He explained that with extension service, FUNAAB is automatically challenged to come down from the Tower’s and relate with the communities towards achieving a better society.

The Vice – Chancellor informed that Management deemed the inauguration of the SDGS team imperative and crucial, in order to drive the process of realising and sustaining development goals towards achieving better impact ranking globally and more importantly, to better the lots of the society in general.

Prof. Kehinde thanked and commended the Resource Person of FUNAAB SDGS, Prof. Adeniyi Adeyanju for volunteering himself and as such, “Deciding to come down to drive the process of harnessing FUNAAB for SDG”.

He described Prof. Olayanju as a round peg in a round hole having driven the SDG to a huge success earlier at Landmark University, Omu Aran, Kwara State during his tenure as Vice – Chancellor.

Speaking further, Prof. Kehinde congratulated the SDG Team Leaders and their Secretaries on their engagement, describing it as a privilege towards contributing to the development of the University and the society as a whole.

According to him, “The beauty, the joy, the glory of any staff working in an establishment like ours is to look back and be proud of his or her contributions. This is exactly what you are about doing by accepting to serve in this team”.

The Vice – Chancellor therefore charged the Team to be focused, selfless and result oriented in their service delivery to the University and the society at large.

Earlier in his Welcome Address, the Director, Directorate of Research Innovation and Partnership (DRIP), Prof. Mutiu Busari described the constitution of the SDG Team as a welcome development, charging the leaders in particular, to as a matter of urgency hit the ground running.

He charged the Team Leaders and others to see their inclusion as a call to render selfless service towards making FUNAAB a force to reckon with in global ranking of Universities.

In his Presentation titled, “FUNAAB – SDG -The Rankings”, the SDG Resource Person, Prof. Adeniyi Adeyanju held his audience spellbound with his mastery of the thematic concern, digging beneath the surface by exposing and espousing the nitty- gritty of the technicality of SDG and the attendant parameter for ranking.

Prof. Adeyanju who wasted no time in commending FUNAAB latest ranking as the best Public University in Nigeria by Times Higher Education ranking of Universities in Sub – Saharan Africa quickly pointed out that FUNAAB is endowed with the much needed wherewithal to be the best in the continent and a force to reckon with globally.

He pin – pointed that the focus now should therefore be for FUNAAB to move from national to global level.

Prof. Olayanju disclosed that driving and realising the aims and objectives of the SDG is an ample opportunity for FUNAAB to occupy a pride of place on global rankings.

He expatiated that the goal of driving the process of SDG is not limited to ranking of Universities but more importantly, it’s about impacting the core values of SDG Codes (like Code 3516 which espouses core health care, gender equality, peace, justice and strong institution, among others) on humanity and the society.

The Resource Person who delivered his Presentation with deep sense of humour and “Easy does it style” expressed joy that FUNAAB is an embodiment of SDG wherewithal, stressing that what is left is to harness, explore and deplore it through a symbiotic relationship between the University Management and SDG Team.

Prof. Olayanju thanked the Vice -Chancellor for being SDG compliant, saying he’s already leading and driving the process with some of his SDG’s oriented programmes.

He also commended the Directorate of Public Relations for evolving and sustaining FUNAAB Bulleting WhatsApp Platform under the leadership of the University Management, saying it’s a veritable source of information to drive the process of SDG.

Prof. Olayanju charged the SDG Team to be diligent and desist from making money and other pecuniary benefits their driving force but to first and foremost be committed and successful in their assignments, adding that well deserved opportunies will come at the right time without compromising standard.

The Resource Person tasked the team leaders on the need to have deep understanding of the narrative of  SDG.

He educated them that they don’t need to read the entire content of the over 150 pages narrative on SDG, saying all they have to do is to read the introduction and the chapter(s) that is or are relevant to their SDG Group(s)

Prof. Olayanju however, expressed the need for the Team Leaders and members to understand and utilized their Team Code, for instance Code 3516 is the Team that is driving the process of gender, fairness, justice and health, among others.

He explained that understanding the code is imperative for smooth interface and online interactions with other SDG Teams in diaspora because premium is placed on the code and not on the names of the Leaders and members of the Team.

The occasion peaked with the inauguration of the SDG team as their names were reeled out one after the other with a “Presidential” like handshake from the Vice – Chancellor, who beaming with smile and exuding infectious confidence and carriage congratulated them and took group photographs with them.

We hope to serve our esteemed readers the List of the SDG Team Leaders and members in our subsequent report on this platform.

However, the Inauguration was witnessed by the Deputy Vice – Chancellor (Development), Prof. Kola Adebayo and the University Librarian, Dr. Abayomi Owolabi.

Others are the Dean of College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM), Prof. I. T. Omonoyi, Dean, College of Foods and Human Ecology (COLFHEC), Prof. W. A. O. Afolabi, the brand new Dean of College of Entrepreneurial and Development Studies (COLENDS), Prof. Jayeola Olabisi and also the new Dean of College of Veterinary Medicine (COLVET), Prof. Ajayi Oluwasola Lawrence.

The Inauguration was also attended by the Dean of College of Physical Sciences (COLPHYS), Prof.Adio Akinwale, the Dean of College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT) represented by the Deputy Dean, Prof. Waheed Adewale Salau and the Dean of College of Engineering, Prof.Olawale Usman Dairo.

Non – Teaching Staff were ably represented by Deputy Registrar 1, Establishment (Academic), Mrs. Toyin Dawodu, Deputy Registrar 1 (Senate and Admission), Mr. Adewusi Agbotoba, Deputy Registrar II (Vice -Chancellor’s Office), Mr. Moses Ayanda, Director of Works, Mr. Olawole Akinyele, Head, Directorate of Public Relations, Mr. Kola Adepoju, Acting Director ICTREC, Mr. Temitope Soretire and the immediate past Director of ICTREC, Dr. Olutayo Ajayi, among others.