Last Updated on December 16, 2014 by admin
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, has commended the efforts of the Federal Government at bringing succour to pensioners through the periodical review of pension wages. Professor Oyewole disclosed this during a 3-Day Entrepreneurship Capacity Building Training Workshop for Pensioners, organised by the Board of Trustees for Pension Administration in collaboration with the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS). The Vice-Chancellor was represented at the occasion by Professor Bola Okuneye, a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management of FUNAAB.
He added, “You will agree with me that all hands must be on deck to ensure that our pensioners are not made to go through untold hardship of life of poverty and penury after retirement but rather, they should be entitled to quality living after the meritorious services they have rendered to our dear fatherland”. He recalled the various workshops that the University Management had embarked upon in its drive for better life for its staff after retirement, by ensuring that pensioners lived meaningful lives after their disengagement from service. His words, “We are glad that the feedback we have been getting on the past workshops pointed to the fact that they were beneficial to those who had attended as they have put the knowledge gained at these Workshops into practice”.
Professor Okuneye, who is also the Chairman, Workshop Organising Committee, disclosed that the main purpose for the workshop was to train participants on how best to cope with retirement, adding that it would also impart some basic knowledge about businesses which are appropriate for retirees. According to him, “We will examine ways of improving the business status of those who have started their various businesses and train them on how to refinance struggling businesses”. Delivering a paper titled, “Sharing Experiences of Retirement”, Mr. Lateef Ladejo, a former Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU-FUNAAB), said that retirement was not a bed of roses, as he urged public servants to prepare adequately for the future. Mr. Adekunle Okanlawon admonished the retirees to personally monitor their businesses, warning against being “an absentee businessman”. The second paper titled, “Coping with Stress and Health Challenges at Retirement” was delivered by Dr. Julius Adegbite, who emphasised that the way someone responds to stress would depend on how he/she would overcome stress, as he advised that growing old usually comes with health challenges. Delivering the third paper titled, “Business Ethics and Required Approach in the Present Day Nigeria”, Professor Okuneye, noted the two important things a good business man must take into consideration. are: what will people buy and the trends of demand. He added that a good business man must be frank to ensure that family and friends pay for services rendered. “Put in your best in the business and don’t offend customers. If you are already in business, try as much as possible to remain in business”. He charged retirees to think big but start small, saying that by the time they start their business, they should make sure that customers were not disappointed. The fourth paper provided an opportunity for participants to break into groups to acquire entrepreneurship skills and was moderated by Dr. Funmilayo Braide of FUNAAB, while the fifth paper titled, “Benefits of Entrepreneurship Skills”, was delivered by the Director, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), Professor Olufemi Onifade. 
In his remarks, a member of the FUNAAB Pension Board of Trustee representing the Office of the Federal Head of Service, Mr. Edward Edohamen, said that the programme was aimed at enhancing the pensioners’ welfare as they had been taken through series of practical sessions. He appreciated the various speakers who he said, chose “carefully selected” topics of interests. According to Mr. Edohamen, “by the time the pensioners leave here, they would have something to hold on from the workshop”. Delivering the lecture on “Value Added Products”, the Dean of the College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC), Professor Lateef Sanni, encouraged the pensioners to start something new, no matter how little it could appear to be at the beginning. Professor Sanni also advised them to carry along their children before embarking on any business and add value to whatever they do in a market-driven environment.
Other speakers during the workshop include the Dean, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM), Professor Christian Ikeobi; Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) FUNAAB, Dr. Festus Adeosun and the UNAAB Microfinance Bank team, which educated the pensioners on Banking Facilities. The pensioners were taken through practical classes of Bead Making, Fisheries, Dry Cleaning and Laundry, Soap Making/Vaseline and Coconut Oil, Rabbitry, Catering and Hospitality and other Value Added Products.
Dignitaries present at the occasion include the Pioneer Registrar of FUNAAB, Princess Bisi Shoboyejo and Mrs. Hamzart Abechi from the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja.
