By Emeka Oluka & Joy Adeyiga
In a concerted effort to uphold standards of quality education within Nigerian universities, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) played host to delegates from the National Universities Commission (NUC) on Assessment of Equipment Maintenance Centres. The visit, aimed at enforcing quality assurance and quantity control, underscores the University’s commitment to maintaining excellence in all its sectors.
At a meeting with the NUC delegates, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde reiterated the importance of embracing quality among all stakeholders within the University Community.
Prof. Kehinde expressed the University’s willingness to collaborate with the NUC delegates to ensure strict adherence to quality standards.
Highlighting the University’s proactive measures, Prof. Kehinde pointed to the presence of the newly-inaugurated Committee on Quality Control and Assurance.
He emphasised FUNAAB’s dedication to optimising the utilisation of approved funds and ensuring that all endeavours align with the University’s mission.
In a testament to FUNAAB’s commitment to infrastructure maintenance, Prof. Kehinde revealed that the University boasts a remarkable absence of abandoned projects on its campus. This achievement, he attributed to the judicious use of allocated funds, including the establishment of an Equipment Maintenance Centre (EMC) which has been in existence since 1988.
Underlining the importance of a maintenance culture, Prof. Kehinde stressed that the University must prioritise equipment upkeep without waiting for external reminders.
He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to maintaining both physical infrastructure and human resources, essential for sustaining academic excellence.
Providing insights into FUNAAB’s research endeavours, Prof. Kehinde disclosed the University’s success in securing both local and international grants, including notable recognition in the 2023 TETFAIR.
Acknowledging the imperfections inherent in human endeavours, Prof. Kehinde expressed openness to the NUC delegates’ suggestions and corrections, noting the University’s dedication to continuous improvement and academic excellence.
Earlier, in her Introductory Remarks, Dr. Ayoteju Ogun, the Team Lead and Deputy Director in the Office of the Executive Secretary at NUC, conveyed appreciation for the warm reception extended by the University Management.
Dr. Ogun outlined the purpose of the visit, focusing on evaluating equipment functionality and its impact on research, learning, and teaching within the University.
She added that their visit also aimed to assess FUNAAB’s participation in the Equipment Maintenance Team (EMT) initiative, with the overarching goal of enhancing educational standards both locally and internationally.
