Last Updated on August 13, 2026 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Raymond Osemene
The Directorate of Academic Planning (DAP), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), in collaboration with the Royal Statistical Society (RSS), has commenced a two-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening evidence-based decision-making, institutional planning and policy development.
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olusegun Idowu, described the training as timely and strategic to the University’s development aspirations. He noted that FUNAAB operates in an increasingly complex environment where decisions must be supported by credible data, measurable outcomes and reliable evidence.
The Vice-Chancellor urged participants to approach the training with open minds, stressing that its success would be measured not only by knowledge acquired, but by how effectively it is applied to improve planning processes, institutional performance and decision-making.
Earlier, the Director, Directorate of Academic Planning, Prof. Biodun Badmus, appreciated the Country Representative of the RSS, Prof. Olaniyi Olayiwola, for his support and commitment to strengthening the Directorate and the University. He described Academic Planning as a critical function involving the systematic collection, management and analysis of data to support sound institutional decisions.
Prof. Badmus said the programme was designed to equip participants with practical knowledge and skills that could be immediately applied to enhance the quality of planning activities and the evidence provided for institutional decision-making.
Also speaking, the Head of Quality Assurance, Prof. Saliu Amolegbe, emphasised that quality assurance is a continuous process involving performance measurement, identification of gaps and implementation of corrective measures. He stressed that reliable institutional data remain indispensable for effective quality assurance and sustainable development.
Prof. Olayiwola, in his welcome remarks, said the initiative was driven by the recognition that reliable data and sound statistical practices are essential to effective university planning. He explained that participants would be exposed to data security, quality assurance, strategic planning, data management, processing and analysis, including practical sessions on the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
Delivering the keynote lecture, titled “Significance of Data for Planning Process,” Dr. Oluwaseun Wale-Orojo explained that institutions that rely on accurate data are better positioned to understand their realities, anticipate challenges, allocate resources appropriately and make evidence-based decisions.
She warned that poor-quality data could result in inappropriate deployment of staff and resources, neglect of areas requiring attention, inaccurate institutional projections and difficulties during accreditation exercises. She said the training would enable participants to identify major sources of planning data, understand data quality challenges, interpret planning indicators and make practical recommendations based on evidence.
Participants were also introduced to key planning concepts, including data, information, knowledge and decisions, as well as indicators, baselines and targets. Dr Orojo explained that indicators measure progress, baselines provide reference points for assessing progress, while targets represent expected levels of performance within specified periods. The workshop continues tomorrow, August 12, 2026.
