Last Updated on May 26, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Femi Dansu
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) today, May 23, 2025, received a high-level Monitoring and Verification Team from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), as part of efforts to assess the implementation of projects under the Batch 8 (2021) National Research Fund (NRF) Grant.
Welcoming the delegation, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, expressed profound appreciation to TETFund for its unwavering support towards advancing research in Nigerian universities. He noted that FUNAAB had made adequate preparations for the exercise and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and impactful research.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, research remains a critical component of the University’s tripartite mandate and requires sustained funding. He emphasised that without interventions such as the NRF Grant, universities would struggle to maintain meaningful research output. Prof. Kehinde highlighted FUNAAB’s track record of impactful research and assured that the University would continue to deliver on its mandate with excellence.
Speaking on behalf of the TETFund delegation, the Team Lead, Prof. Demo Kalla, stated that the visit was designed not only to monitor and verify project execution but also to provide constructive feedback that would add value to ongoing research efforts. He congratulated FUNAAB for its outstanding performance in research and encouraged the University to maintain its leadership role within the national research ecosystem.
Prof. Kalla underscored the opportunities offered by the NRF Grant, particularly for senior academic staff serving as Principal Investigators. He urged researchers at FUNAAB to submit well-developed, credible proposals and explore additional funding avenues.
Meanwhile, the Monitoring and Verification Exercise focused on assessing project milestones in line with stated objectives, work plans, key performance indicators, and approved budgets.
The visit was well-attended by key stakeholders including the Bursar, Mr. Olukayode Osinuga; Principal Investigators such as the Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnerships (DRIP), Prof. Mutiu Busari; Director, Directorate of Academic Planning, Prof. Olajide Sogunle; former Dean, College of Environmental
Resources Management (COLERM), Prof. Isaac Omoniyi, and the immediate past Chairman, ASUU-UNAAB, Dr. Oluwagbemiga Adeleye.
Others present included Professors Elijah Obayelu, Ayokunle Olude, Taofik Shittu, Segun Oladoye, representatives from the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, as well as members of the TETFund Team that were Prof. Sylvester Ibe and Barrister Maryam Mustapha.
The visit has further reinforced FUNAAB’s position as a beacon of research excellence and innovation in the Nigerian University System.
Photos are attached below 👇
Credit: Gbolahan Lawal
