The VC, Prof. Olusola Oyewole addressing participants at the Closing Ceremony of the ISTRC. With him are Ag. Librarian, Dr. (Mrs.) Mulikat Salaam (2nd left); ISTRC new President, Prof. Keith Tomlins (4th Left); Immediate Past President, ISTRC, Prof. Andrew Westby (5th Left); LOC Chairman, Prof. Lateef Sanni (4th right); DVC (A), Prof. Toyin Arowolo (2nd Right) and the Registrar, Mr. Matthew Ayoola (1st Right).

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole on Friday closed the 16th Triennial Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC) with a declaration that “the future of this country (Nigeria) does not depend on oil but on what we can do with our knowledge and vocational skills.
He stated that the success of any country now lies on the knowledge base and skills of its citizenry.
Professor Oyewole pointed out that the focus of the University is to produce graduates that will be wealth creators and not job seekers, in order to become a world class institution.
According to him, “many would have been wondering what a typical African University looks like; this is what we are and our dream is to make it world class”
Professor Oyewole expressed joy over the University’s privilege to host scientists from all over the world for five days.
He admonished ISTRC and other body of scientists at the symposium to always consider FUNAAB for the hosting of their International Conferences, as they have seen that it has the needed facilities on ground.
Professor Oyewole thanked the leadership of ISTRC, the Local Organizing Committee and more importantly, the staff and students of the University whom he said “this conference wouldn’t have been held without their support”.