Last Updated on March 11, 2026 by Olasunkanmi Olajide

… As Abeokuta District Top Officials Pay Courtesy Visit to FUNAAB

By Olasunkanmi Olajide & Femi Dansu

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, has called for deeper collaboration between the University and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), particularly in strengthening professional training for students.

Prof. Kehinde made the call today, March 9, 2026, while receiving a delegation from the Abeokuta District Society of the Institute during a strategic Courtesy Visit to the University.

During the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor proposed leveraging ICAN’s Accounting Technicians Scheme (ATS) to enable students to begin obtaining professional certifications concurrently with their University degrees. According to him, such an arrangement would give graduates a competitive advantage in the labour market.

Prof. Kehinde appreciated the District for recognising the University’s strides in professional development, noting that FUNAAB’s guiding philosophy of excellence, integrity, innovation, and global relevance had contributed to its growing international recognition, including its ranking among the world’s leading agricultural universities.

The Vice-Chancellor also revealed that the University had successfully revived its Accounting programme after a period of delisting due to regulatory concerns about its placement within a specialised agricultural institution. He explained that the programme, alongside others in the Management Sciences such as Economics, Banking and Finance, and Business Administration, were reinstated in the 2025/2026 Academic Session, thereby expanding the University’s academic offerings and strengthening its capacity for professional training.

In her remarks, the Chairman, ICAN Abeokuta District, Mrs. Olubukola Olufemi, FCA, expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor and the University Management for their continuous support for ICAN members within the institution. She noted that the visit was aimed at acknowledging the University’s leadership and further consolidating the cordial relationship between the professional body and FUNAAB.

Mrs. Olufemi also highlighted key achievements recorded by the District under her leadership, including professional development programmes addressing emerging trends such as Artificial Intelligence in Accounting, Cryptocurrency Analysis, and Blockchain Technologies. She further mentioned the District’s “Catch Them Young” initiative, a programme designed to inspire young people to pursue careers in Accounting.

Looking ahead, she invited members of the University Community to the District’s forthcoming dinner scheduled for May 15, 2026, noting that the event would precede the inauguration of a new executive committee that would be led by a staff member of the University.

The meeting was attended by the Bursar, Mr. Olukayode Osinuga; Dean, College of Entrepreneurial and Development Studies (COLENDS), Prof. Olabisi Jaiyeola; Deputy Bursars and several Heads of Sections in the Bursary Department, reflecting the significance of the partnership between the professional body and the University.