Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo has called on the Federal authorities to bring back Management Science courses to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Oba Gbadebo made the call during a Courtesy visit by the FUNAAB Visitation Panel members at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta, on Monday, 26th April, 2021.
Alake also said that management courses would help the students to learn how to appropriately manage their businesses and agricultural products to the benefit of themselves and the end users.
The Egba Apex Monarch also noted that the University had performed wonderfully well even in the past four years, adding that the University had been the number one Agricultural University in Africa.
Oba Adedotun Gbadebo therefore argued that, the fact that FUNAAB had been consistently a veritable leader in Agricultural Sciences would not make it lose it’s prime place in the comity of citadels of learning, if concomitant and relevant Management Science Courses were added.
The Alake drew the attention of the Visitation Panel to the excellent performances of the institution, when it was fully running Management Science Courses alongside its main Agricultural focus, being nationally and internationally.
The Alake urged the Panel to take cue from many American Agricultural based universities, such as those in Florida, where they run as conventional universities without losing focus on agriculture.
Alake also appealed to the Panal to strongly recommend that funds be made available to complete the fencing of the lands belonging to the University so as to avoid land disputes or encroachment in the future, which would be difficult to retrieve.
He added that if the entire property was fenced, no one would be able to claim it from them.
Alake further commended the University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kolawole Salako, who had worked hard in this regard.
Speaking on the Community based Agricultural Research facilities of the University, Alake advised that efforts should be made to extend the project.
According to Oba Gbadebo, the Egba Community had made a request for a Conventional University that would allow more courses in FUNAAB to meet the yearning of the teeming youth population in Ogun State and Nigeria, during the visit of Prof Onazi left Visitation Panel in 2011, but the request was yet to be granted.
The Egba Paramount Ruler also urged the visitation panel to explore the historical riches of the city of Abeokuta as they commence their inspections.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Felix Salako, noted that the Visitation Panel had always come to review the University activities and facilities every five years.
Prof Salako added that the Statutory exercise was not conducted the last time, due to unforeseen circumstances, adding that this period’s visitation would cover review of ten years past activities in the University, in the aspects of administration, financial management, projects, staff adequacy, inter-University relationships, security, and courses offered in the varsity.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the visitation Panel, Prof. Akarenem Essien, disclosed that the exercise was under the Nigerian University Law, which was put in place to enhance proper functioning of Universities.
Mr Essien also said that the Visitation Panel would inspect the past and current situation of the University and give advice to the government in areas needed to be developed.
The Chairman also lauded the Egba Apex Monarch, stating that he had been a distinguished Chancellor of Alex-Ekweme Federal University, Nkwo Alike,Igwo, near Abakaliki, with numerous contributions and excellent performances of his fatherly role.
He further urged the Alake for his continued support as the University had always counted on him.
Members of the Visitation Panel to FUNAAB who were at the occasion included Prof. Akaranem Essien- Chairman, Dr. Lateef Alani Odekunle, Barr. Uchenna Okonkwo, Prof. (Mrs) Foluso Okebukola, Prof. Yahaya Shehu, and Dr. Jubre Joseph Molwus.
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