By Emeka Oluka, Femi Dansu & Tofunmi Adebayo
Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, on Monday, April 29, 2024 during a working visit to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), reaffirmed his dedication to the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Camp/FUNAAB road.
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT & Cyber Security, Senator Shuaib expressed gratitude to the University Community for their support in his election to the Senate and reiterated his commitment to fulfilling his promises to his constituency.
Senator Shuaib, a Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society highlighted three main reasons for his visit which were his connection to the constituency hosting Africa’s Best University of Agriculture, his desire to address the road issues leading to FUNAAB, and his pledge to actively engage with and support the University.
According to him, he stated that the need for substantial improvements on the Camp/FUNAAB road beyond mere temporary fixes would bring a more permanent solution.
During the visit, Senator Shuaib pledged his advocacy and support for FUNAAB’s infrastructure and vowed to work tirelessly alongside the Senate committees on Agriculture, Education, ICT, and Cyber Security to address the University’s challenges.
He encouraged the Vice-Chancellor to provide a list of the University’s obstacles for immediate attention.
Besides, Senator Shuaib expressed his intention to utilise FUNAAB as a platform for youth employment initiatives.
He shared his successful “Classroom to Boardroom” programme and proposed similar training programmes for farmers to enhance their skills and transit their practice of agriculture into agribusiness.
He also envisioned extending agribusiness education services to FUNAAB students to combat unemployment in the country, thereby stressing the importance of collaboration between the University and the local community, particularly in areas such as agriculture, education, and healthcare.
Looking ahead, Senator Shuaib envisaged establishing a Farmers Market to support trained farmers and enhance their market access, as well as showcase research outputs of the University.
He pledged to make his tenure, along with that of the Vice-Chancellor, memorable and impactful for FUNAAB and its adjoining communities.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, appreciated Senator Shuaib for honouring his promise to the University, describing him as a man dedicated to serving the people.
Prof. Kehinde reiterated FUNAAB’s commitment to teaching, research, and community engagement, highlighting the Senator’s focus on agricultural development in the Ogun Central Senatorial District.
Present at the Interactive Session were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Olukayode Akinyemi; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Prof. Kola Adebayo; Ag. Registrar, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Dawodu; Ag. Bursar, Mr. Olukayode Osinuga, and the University Librarian, Dr. Abayomi Owolabi.
Others were the Chairman, Odeda Local Government Area, Hon. (Dr.) Folashade Adeyemo; Director-General, SAS Campaign Team, Hon. Hakeem Adeshina, including several University Top Officials, staff members and several other top executives of the Senator’s entourage.
Highpoint was a guided familiarisation tour of the Computer Laboratories, 3MW Solar Project, Oil Palm Processing and Mushroom Units, including FUNAAB Alpha and Rabbitry Units.
Meanwhile, throughout his campaign, Senator Shuaib demonstrated a deep understanding of his constituency’s needs and a genuine commitment to addressing them.
Even before assuming office, he prioritised tackling issues such as the state of roads, indicating his proactive approach to governance.
