… Urges Staff to Uphold Peace
By Emeka Oluka & Olaoye Oyewole
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde at the 35th Congregation meeting held today, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, rallied the University Community towards upholding peace and fostering a collaborative environment to propel FUNAAB to greater heights.
In his Address, titled “Elevating Excellence: A Year of Achievements and Collaborations,” Prof. Kehinde lauded the collective efforts of staff and Congregation members, underscoring their vital role in steering FUNAAB towards its current achievement as the Best University of Agriculture in Africa, and setting the stage for even higher accomplishments.
He emphasised the University’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence as the bedrock of its success.
Highlighting the remarkable strides made under his leadership, Prof. Kehinde accentuated FUNAAB’s adherence to a seamless academic calendar and the admission of 4,324 students by National Universities Commission (NUC) regulations for the 2023/2024 academic session.
In a pivotal moment, the Vice-Chancellor unveiled the accreditation of seven programmes, including Biochemistry, Pure and Applied Zoology, Home Science and Management, Hospitality and Tourism, Economics, Entrepreneurial Studies, and Microbiology as a testament to FUNAAB’s dedication to academic quality and relevance.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that FUNAAB upon approval by regulatory bodies, would start admitting and graduating students in the following Degree Programmes which are Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Library and Information Science, Cyber Security, Information Systems and Software Engineering.
Others are Data Science, Information Technology, Information and Communication Technology, as well as Industrial Chemistry.
Beyond academia, Prof. Kehinde unveiled ambitious initiatives, such as the imminent launch of the University Bookshop and strides in research and development, evidenced by significant grants secured by academic staff and FUNAAB’s commendable sixth position among Nigerian Higher Education Institutions in research performance.
He noted that academic staff have intensified access to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Institutional-Based Research (IBR) Grants of about N185 million. According to him “Last year, our academic staff won externally-funded research grants worth Twenty Five Thousand Pounds (£25,000) and One Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand Euros (€198,000).
He further noted FUNAAB’s engagement with the wider community which has borne fruit, exemplified by the recent visit of the German Consul General to Nigeria, heralding promising opportunities for collaboration and growth.
While celebrating achievements, Prof. Kehinde acknowledged challenges, particularly staff shortages, assuring proactive measures to recruit new personnel and address operational deficiencies.
He also outlined ongoing efforts to bolster infrastructure, including the completion of the pedestrian walkway, and the 3MW solar power projects aimed at ensuring reliable electricity supply.
Besides, the Vice-Chancellor declared that the dam reticulation to the campus is nearing completion, as the pumping of water has been intensified to correct the leaking areas.
He also informed the meeting that the University has engaged the services of Agro Rangers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to secure some major University assets, including farmlands.
In a clarion call for adherence to institutional norms, Prof. Kehinde urged all staff to uphold discipline and familiarise themselves with the University Act, Rules, and Regulations, underlining their role in fostering a harmonious work environment and reducing friction.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor who recently celebrated 30 years of active service in FUNAAB, would clock one year in office on April 3 as the 7th Substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University.
As FUNAAB continues its journey towards elevating excellence, the Vice-Chancellor’s impassioned Address resonated as a beacon of guidance, charting a course towards greater heights and unwavering success.
