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Chancellor tasks varsities on research findings

By Editor
12 November 2015   |   2:13 am
The Obong of Calabar, Treaty King and Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, has challenged universities to match their research findings with societal needs as this would expedite the country’s growth.
Edidem Abasi Otu

Edidem Abasi Otu

The Obong of Calabar, Treaty King and Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, has challenged universities to match their research findings with societal needs as this would expedite the country’s growth.

Otu lamented that too much reliance on petroleum resources as the nation’s main source of revenue was to blame for the present economic downturn the country was enmeshed in.

The monarch spoke in Calabar, the Cross River State capital while receiving the university’s delegation led by the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, however, lauded the Federal Government for appreciating the importance of agriculture, stressing that until the country went back to paying serious attention to agriculture, the over-dependence on oil would remain a national shame.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari, has realised the need for us to return to the farm, so we need to equip up ourselves educationally and technologically in order to succeed in contemporary agricultural.

He promised to support the institution in all ramifications and expressed confidence that capable hands were running the affairs of the university.

Ogunlewe, a former Works Minister, who led the delegation congratulated the monarch on his appointment, and informed him that, “The structure of the university is very simple. We have Mr. President as the Visitor and the owner of the University. The second owner is your humble self, Sir. Without the chancellor, there is no university because there is no convocation without the chancellor. No graduate of the university can be presented outside without the consent and permission of the chancellor.”

The pro-chancellor stated further that the university was available to members of Calabar community to offer their assistance, in the areas of research, learning and the use of modern technology in agriculture.

Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Olusola Oyewole, highlighted major developments that have taken place in the institution from its establishment till date.

Oyewole, who is also the President, Association of African Universities (AAU), stated that FUNAAB was committed to capacity building in the areas of agriculture and beyond.

“Today, agriculture is no longer a developmental activity, but a business. That is why in the university, apart from having programmes in various areas of agriculture, we also have programmes in the sciences, because without sciences, there cannot be agriculture. But beyond that, we have programmes in engineering,” he added.

He further informed that the University now has a College of Management Sciences (COLMAS), and by that token, its graduates were no longer job seekers, but job-creators.

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