Last Updated on April 4, 2026 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Raymond Osemene
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has commended the outstanding achievement of one of its students, Mr. Oluwagbemiga Adeboye, who emerged as a beneficiary of a highly competitive Federal Government-backed Student Venture Capital Grant.
Mr. Adeboye, a final-year student of Agricultural and Bio-Resources Engineering in the College of Engineering (COLENG), earned the prestigious recognition for his innovative project titled “Hybrid Solar Dryer for Postharvest Preservation.”
The grant programme, organised by the Federal Ministry of Education, attracted over 36,000 applications nationwide. From this pool, only 63 finalists were shortlisted, with just 45 ultimately receiving funding, placing the FUNAABite among a select group of top innovators.
Speaking at a ceremony held in his honour, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, lauded the student’s accomplishment and commended the collective efforts of his mentors and institutional support units. He specifically acknowledged the contributions of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), the Career Services and Linkages Unit (CSLU), the Employability and Benchmarking Committee and the Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, COLENG, for their roles in nurturing entrepreneurial and innovative capacity among students.
The Vice-Chancellor also expressed appreciation to TETFund and GIZ for their support in organising the skill-driven career fair, which enhanced graduate employability and entrepreneurship exposure that gave him visibility.
He commended 720 Degrees Hub for supporting the entrepreneurial training of FUNAAB’s final year students which focused on the CREATE module of GIZ Inspire, Create, Start and Scale (ICSS), noting that, the programme equips participants with entrepreneurial competencies to develop structured, innovative, and market-driven business models.
Describing the grant as more than a financial reward, the Vice-Chancellor noted that it symbolises creativity, resilience, and a commitment to excellence beyond academic requirements. He urged the beneficiary to maximise the opportunity by developing impactful solutions to societal challenges. “This success should not be an endpoint but a starting point,” he stated, emphasising the need to scale innovative ideas and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Prof. Kehinde further disclosed that the initiative, supported by the Bank of Industry, would reopen for applications in October. He, therefore, called on Colleges, Departments, and relevant Centres within the University to intensify mentorship efforts in preparation for future participation. He also encouraged students to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship alongside their academic pursuits, noting that such achievements, position graduates as job creators and solution providers.
Other speakers at the event, including Prof. Iyabode Kehinde, Alternate Chairperson of the Employability and Benchmarking Committee; Dean, COLENG, Prof. Adedayo Badejo; Director, CENTS, Prof. Sakiru Akinbode; former Director of CENTS, Prof. Emily Ayo-John; Head, CSLU, Prof. Elijah Obayelu, and the former Head, CSLU, Dr. Mathew Oose, emphasised accountability in the utilisation of public funds. They urged Mr. Adeboye to ensure that the project delivers tangible societal benefits and highlighted the importance of sustained institutional support to scale innovations to commercial viability.
They jointly appreciated the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its continued financial support towards advancing career services in FUNAAB.
In his response, Mr. Adeboye expressed gratitude to FUNAAB for providing a platform to showcase his potential. He also acknowledged the guidance and encouragement of his mentors, noting that their support created an enabling environment for his success.
