The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has gained tremendously from the hosting of the 16th Triennial Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC).
Baring his mind on the International event in an exclusive chat with FUNAAB Bulletin at the University International Scholar Resource Centre, which hosted Plenary sessions, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Professor Sanni brazenly declared, “Hosting the 16th World Symposium of Tropical Roots Crops is an investment. It’s a potent way of exposing the visibility of the University (FUNAAB)”.
Expatiating on the “investment” in concrete term, the LOC Chairman disclosed that hosting the ISTRC International Symposium has boosted the capital base of the University, as revenue were internally generated into the institution’s coffer.
According to him, “ quite a number of participants were accommodated at International Scholars and Resource Centre and Girls Hostels. In essence, the hosting of the International symposium has generated internal revenue for the University.
Speaking further, Professor Sanni said if the gains aforementioned, are spur of the moments’ stuff, of more importance, are future benefits that will stand the test of time and even outlive the administration of Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole.
He pin-pointed the future benefits, “In terms of research opportunities and partnership, you can’t quantify the immediate future benefits that will come to this University. For one, if we look at 10 years down the line, you will see that some of the research collaborations that we have in this University also emanated from the people that are coming in now”.
Besides, Professor Sanni described the hosting as an image booster for the University at global level.
His words, “It also has a global implication on the image of the University. For one, there are transferred fund. Now they are monitoring how we have spent it. They have seen the transparency, they have seen the focus, they have seen the leadership. What this means is that FUNAAB is ripe to actually host bigger projects in the nearest future”.
Responding to the acceptability and success of the hosting by the University, the LOC Chairman attributed it to the credibility and commitment of the Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole led management.
“I am of the strong view that any activity that will be carried out should be within the ambit and control of the University management. That is when you will gain the credibility that people really want”.
“The era of individuality have gone. We must do it collectively and together we can achieve a lot” he added.
Professor Sanni extolled the leadership quality of Professor Oyewole, which according to him contributed largely to the success of the symposium.
“I don’t praise sing but in this case, I will bluntly give the Vice-Chancellor a well deserved commendation. Professor Oyewole is a focused leader. He is highly committed to what he wants to achieve. He doesn’t want any failure”
“Whatever you can do that will give the University development, the Vice-Chancellor will support you and you will see in him transparency and utmost commitment” he added.