When I came into office about twenty one (21) months ago, it was with a vision to transform the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) into a World Class University. I give glory to God Almighty because through His grace and power, we are advancing to greater heights everyday.

Our University has continued to improve in global visibility while remaining more relevant locally. I am proud to note that in the year 2013, the Federal University of Agriculture was designated a World Bank Centre of Excellence in Agriculture through our proposal on the establishment of the “Centre for Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment (CADESE)”. Our University now has increased support and scholarship for foreign students. Our researchers are now involved in more international collaborations and partnerships. We are progressively attracting more international grants from big funding agencies more than ever before. We remain committed to excellence in teaching and research. We strive to ensure that graduates of this University acquire the skills and competencies to compete with graduates of other world class Universities. These are the visions we set for ourselves. These are the goals we are committed to achieve.

Today, as I review the year 2013, I cannot but give glory to God Almighty. I am very confident in God that by His grace and power, we are seeing the results of His covenants over this University as contained in Gen. 12:2–3. I am therefore bold to declare that: “The Lord God will help me: therefore shall I not be confounded; therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed (Isaiah 50:7)”.

The year 2013 was the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the University. The whole year under review was our 25th Anniversary celebration. Our celebration was limited by the long industrial action that affected all Federal Universities in Nigeria. On this Silver Jubilee occasion, let me note some landmarks of 2013 compared to where we started from:

1. In 2013, FUNAAB was recognized as a World Bank Centre of Excellence in Africa, making this a fulfillment of the vision of our founding-fathers;
2. Many international students have won international scholarships to study in FUNAAB;
3. Our University environment landscape remain unique and of world-class standard;
4. Students enrolment in 2013 stands at 13,276 compared to 848 in 1988;
5. Graduate outputs has increased from 17 at first graduation in 1989 to 1, 819 in the 2012/2013 Academic Session;
6. From an Academic Staff population of 36 in 1988, we now run our programmes with a total of 529 academic staff;
7. Academic programmes in the University increased from 18 at inception to 28 in 2013. (The 13 Agricultural Departments as well as 6 Veterinary Medicine Departments count as one programme each. This implies that there are 46 Departments presently in the University);
8. Out of 28 programmes approved for the University, 22 have full accreditation status, while 6 are yet to mature for accreditation. The 6 programmes have been visited for Resources Verification and all approved to commence academic activities. The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), recently awarded Full Accreditation to four Engineering Programmes in the University;
9. The University made history by recording a score of 76.5%, earning a Seven year full accreditation status from the first Institutional Accreditation exercise carried out by the NUC;
10. We have improved our classrooms and study facilities, several lecture theatres, equipped with multimedia facilities have been built and are used as central facilities for teaching students. A recent addition is the 2000 seater lecture theatre, while a 2500 seater theatre is now completed, and would be ready for use at the next convocation ceremony;
11. To enhance teaching and research, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital was completed in 2013, and relocation to the new Veterinary Teaching Hospital commenced towards the end of the same year.

Our Community-Based-Farming Scheme is unique as it gives us opportunity to contribute to the development of the communities around us. Our agricultural graduates are accustomed to the rural environment and are being empowered to be job-creators and not job-seekers.

All these achievements would not have been possible without the commitment of all the staff and students of this great University. I cannot but express deep appreciation to the Governing Council of the University ably led by Sir/Senator (Dr.) Adeseye Ogunlewe whose drive and dedication to the dream of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has been marvellous.

The job is not finished yet. We are advancing to greater heights.

Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole

Vice-Chancellor