Last Updated on April 14, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Olaoye Oyewole
The Registry at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has set a new benchmark for professionalism and dedication with the recognition of Mr. Ebenezer Akiode of the Academic Staff Establishment Unit as the Best Registry Staff for the first quarter of 2025. This honour came under the maiden edition of the Registry Spotlight Award Programme on April 11, 2025, at the Red Chamber, an initiative championed by the Registrar, Dr. Titus Adeniyi.
The Registry Spotlight Award Programme was conceived to inspire excellence, promote healthy competition, and reward diligence among Registry staff. It was also aimed at fostering a culture of proactive service delivery and professional competence within the Registry.
Speaking at the award ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Kola Adebayo, commended the Registrar and the Spotlight Committee for launching the laudable initiative. He emphasised the importance of institutional recognition and recommended that the initiative be extended beyond the Registry to encompass all University staff.
The Vice-Chancellor described the award as a well-deserved honour for Mr. Akiode and encouraged him to see it as both a reward and a call to greater service. He also charged other staff to emulate the winner’s dedication and strive for excellence in subsequent editions of the award.
Highlighting the vision behind the award, Dr. Adeniyi stated that the Spotlight Programme was established to reaffirm the significance of Registry staff roles and to celebrate their contributions. He stressed that the recognition would go a long way in boosting morale and reinforcing the University’s commitment to staff welfare and professional development.
In her address, the Chairperson of the Spotlight Committee, Mrs. Oluwakemi Banuso, appreciated the Registrar for initiating the programme. She disclosed that Mr. Akiode’s selection was based on unanimous agreement by the Committee after a careful review of nominations, citing key criteria such as commitment, competence, punctuality, integrity, willingness to learn, initiative, and trustworthiness.
Responding to the award, Mr. Akiode expressed gratitude to the University Management for creating a conducive working environment and to the Registrar for instituting the Spotlight Award. He noted that the recognition would inspire greater dedication among staff, adding that “no one knows when the spotlight might be beamed on them.”
The event climaxed with the formal presentation of the Award Certificate to Mr. Akiode by the representative of the Vice-Chancellor, alongside the Registrar and other senior officials of the Registry.
Present at the event were the representative of the Bursar, Mr. Valentine Egbuna; immediate past Ag. Registrar, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Dawodu; Deputy Registrar I, Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Mr. Moses Ayanda, as well as many Registrar staff in the University cutting across all cadres.
With this successful debut, the Registry Spotlight Award Programme sets a precedent for celebrating commitment and professionalism, values that continue to shape the growth and excellence of FUNAAB.
