“I wish to solicit for your continued unalloyed support, cooperation and total commitment to the cause of moving FUNAAB to the deserving pedestal”.
These were the words of the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Kolawole Salako while addressing members of the University during the 32nd Congregation meeting of the University.
Summarising the current administration’s achievements under his watch with a presentation captioned “5th April, 2018 to Date: A Note To Congregation”, Professor Salako demystified the various activities under his administration in a 9-point sub-topics: on Smooth Accreditation Process, Academic Activities, Internet Access, Human Resources Management & Social Services and Staff promotion/Appointment.
Others include Inaugural Lectures/Valedictory Lectures; Community engagement; Student Union and physical development. Marshalling his point one after the other, Professor Salako disclosed that Accreditation team from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other professional bodies like the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) had visited FUNAAB in the first Quarter of 2019 for the accreditation of academic programmes in the University.
Speaking on academic activities and internet access, the Vice-Chancellor also added that “the University commenced its 2018/2019 Academic Session for undergraduate, postgraduate and part-time programmes in April and July 2019, and the session is running smoothly, and the students have been enjoying Electronic Processing of their requests, which has greatly reduced stress of queuing up. He also informed that our graduates were mobilized for the Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of 2019″.
The elated Vice-Chancellor repeated that the University has been able to upgrade the internet bandwidth from 155Mbps to 310Mbps bandwidth with over 70% of the buildings in the University provided with internet connectivity, while IFSERAR has been connected through radio, the Administrative block in INHURD connected through Visat.
Speaking on staff training and development, Professor Salako also revealed that during the period under review, his Administration has granted staff permission to be part of various trainings, workshops and conferences as a way of capacity building and equally noted that the Staff promotion for 2018 was concluded in December, 2018.
Informing that the payment of arrears of promotion is soon to be implemented, he revealed that the 2019 promotion is on-going.
Professor Salako seized the opportunity to inform members of congregation that the university had also held series of interviews to recruit into the Academic and Non-Teaching positions.
He also said that five Inaugural Lectures and one Valedictory Lecture have been held during the period under review.
On community engagement, the Vice-Chancellor said, “Our Centre for Excellence, CEADESE, has completed its term, but it is worthy of note that the University is willing to sustain the Centre. In the same vein, the University recently submitted her proposal for the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Procurement, Environment and Social Standards, a World Bank/National Universities Commission (NUC) initiative”, and he appreciated those that contributed to the development of proposal.
In the area of students unionism, it was noted that the Students had successfully elected their Union Executives and representatives to their legislative body in March, 2019.
A process that was done with decorum and without interference of the Administration. “It is pertinent to note that females emerged as both President and the Vice-President. All elected officers have been sworn-in”, Professor Salako added.
In the area of physical development, the Vice-Chancellor expressed his displeasure over some projects yet to be completed due to some hitches, which according to him, “are being looked into for positive resolution”.
However, he noted that some new projects have been awarded recently, and are being funded from the TETFund money.
He commended the College of Engineering for putting the block moulding machine donated by the then Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, through the intervention of the Council Chairman, Barr. Dr. Aboki Zhawa, into use by building two blocks of toilets.
The highpoint of the congregation was the election of Dr. Festus Adeosun, of the Department of Aquaculture and Fishery Management; Dr. Adeboye Fafiolu, of the Department of Animal Nutrition; Dr. Sarafadeen Kareem, of the Department of Microbiology and Dr. Olufunke Vincent, of the Computer Science Department as the representatives of Congregation on Senate.
The meeting was capped with series of questions and suggestions, which were carefully and clearly explained and responded to by the Vice-Chancellor.
