ABEOKUTA – It was such a beehive of activities comprising of good music, laughter, award presentation, foundation laying, and fun for the former students of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta as the Alumni Association held the 21st annual convention and 20th annual lecture in the series.
The epoch making event which was held yesterday Saturday 19th January, 2019 at the Post – Graduate School Auditorium, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta with the Theme: “Agriculture and National Development”.
In the opening address delivered by Mr. Olusola Nurudeen Tobun, National President, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Alumni Association stated that the University Alumni remain the only group with the most genuine motive and interest of seeing to the development of the university.
Mr. Tobun re – stated that the alumni of the institution do not only carry the imprint of the University on their certificates, but they also on their alumni personality and thereafter reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to consolidate on the gains of the past leadership of the association so as to stimulate the development of the university.
He added that they have developed a – three-year strategic plan to set the pathway to enhance its programmes and activities with a clear intention to a more profitable end.
The Alumni President, Mr. Tobun also said that the association was working very hard to raise the financial strength of the association by setting up a business arm which according to him includes; a transport arm known as INFACAS, investment in cattle cooperative society and added that the association has 20 cattle in the ranch.
He thereafter enjoined his fellow alumnus to see themselves as partners in progress and also challenged them to embrace more profitable projects that would at the end contribute immensely to the progress and development of the university which is their alma mater.
The University Pro – Chancellor, Dr. (Barr.) Aboki Zhawa, OON and the Vice Chancellor, FUNAAB, Abeokuta, Professor Felix Kolawole Salako on their parts described the alumni association as exemplary while applauding members for their kind support towards creating a more conducive and friendly environment suitable for academics to prosper both in cash and kind. They were however enjoined the association not to rest in their oars but to continually work to achieve more as the best is expected of the association as they also beseeched the striking lecturers to consider the students as they pursue their quest with the government as the students would always be at the receiving end of any industrial actions embarked by the lecturers.
The guest lecturer at the event, Dr. Samson Odedina, Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. Ojeere, Abeokuta who critically spoke on the sub – theme of the annual lecture series entitled “Scaling Agricultural Solutions for sustainable national development”.
Dr. odedina said that approximately 70% of the Nigerian population engaged in Agriculture production at subsistence level and that the sector was one of the most important in the country as it employs around 70% of Nigerian labour force.
He thereafter named petroleum / oil, services, manufacturing and Agriculture as the four major sectors contributing to Nigeria’s economy and that the neglect of the sector in Nigeria began with the advent of petroleum boom in the early 1970s.
The guest lecturer stated that the importation of food became the order pf the day as Nigeria has lost its status as a net exporter of cash crops such as cocoa, palm oil and groundnuts. He also mentioned that successive government also contributed to the immeasurable neglect of agriculture due to low prices paid to farmers for the domestic market in order to satisfy urban demands for cheap basic food products.
Dr. Odedina mentioned inability of Agriculture to live up to expectation such as job, wealth, raw materials, foreign exchange and employment. He noted that poor infrastructure moribund/dilapidated agricultural research and training facilities, lack of mechanized equipment, poor level of agriculture education, limited or zero access to credit facilities, inputs supply and linkage and high volume of agricultural imports as major problem faced with agricultural development in Nigeria.
He thereafter enjoined government and agricultural stakeholders at all level to secure lasting solution to the problems faced with agricultural development to aid it sustainability as it would further aid the upscaling of agricultural products for a sustainable national development.
He concluded by saying that boost in agricultural sector would help generate employment, wealth creation, poverty reduction, increased farm, food security and increased in youth involvement and engagement in profitable agribusiness.
The high point of the event was the investiture of His Royal Highness, Oba Omosanya Abimbola Akinyemi, Fesogboye, Erinjogumola III, Ebi of Idena, Iperu Remo as the patron of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Alumni Association after which there was presentation of awards of excellence to distinguished alumni for their immense contributions to the development of the association.
Among the award recipient was the Chief Executive Officer of Sparkle Cheery International Consultancy Services, Alhaji (Asiwaju) Nurudeeen Dapo Wahab, JP., B.sc (Hons), Mpm, MSL, MIML, FAAPM.
It would be recalled that Alhaji (Asiwaju) Dapo Wahab recently bagged an exemplary leadership award given to him by the Student Union Government (SUG) of Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Ogun State during her Maiden Essay and Annual Inter – Colligate Competition.
Alhaji Dapo Wahab is a recipient of many awards which include; Bode Olude Muslim Community Award of Excellence, Robbil Hizzat Islamic Group Jihad Merit Award, Honourary Fellow Award from Chattered Institute of Commerce, Nigeria, Leadership Award from Nigeria Institute of Supervision & Leadership etc.
Alhaji Dapo Wahab has also held several leadership position at FUNAAB Alumni which includes; Chairman of FUNAAB Alumni Association, Odeda Branch (2013 – 2018), member of FUNAAB Alumni National Executive Council. In 2014, he was appointed as member of FUNAAB Alumni Constitution review committee and based on his entrepreneurship experience, he was appointed by National Executive Council, FUNAAB Alumni as secretary of Business and Investment Committee.
Other awardees are; His Royal Highness, Oba Omosanya Abimbola Akinyemi, Fesogboye, Erinjogumola III, Ebi of Idena, Iperu Remo, Dr. Samson Odedina, Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. Ojeere, Abeokuta, Mr. Olusola Nurudeen Tobun, National President, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Alumni Association, Dr. Ogundiran, Professor Atagwu and a host of others.
Some of the distinguished members of the alumni association in attendance were; Mr. Akinola Olawunmi, Eduvie Ayamre, Akinde H. Folashade, Solaja Korede, Moruf Popoola, Ogunlade A. Waheed, Kassim H. G., Dayo Bello, Okoebor McCauley, Oseni Bolanle, Idowu D. Adeolu, Makinde Durodola, Akinbuwa Samuel, Alhaji Jamiu Badmus, former chairman FUNNAB alumni, Odeda branch etc.
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