The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FUNAAB

  • FUNAAB records major breakthrough with new chicken breed

    The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), said it has recorded a major breakthrough in its First Improved Indigenous Chicken Breed after 24 years of research and named it “FUNAAB Alpha”.

    Speaking at the presentation of Certificate of Registration for FUNAAB Alpha, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kolawole Salako, said the achievement which spanned 24 years is a blend of hard work and persistence.

    He noted that the breakthrough would positively affect the common man and the nation in the poultry market and of course, food production in the country.

    According to Salako, the university having found the breed acceptable by rural and commercial producers, went ahead to register the project as FUNAAB Alpha on July 26, by the National Center for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB).

    “Our university has successfully placed on the Nigerian poultry market a dual purpose breed of chicken, tested under rural households from September 2016 to December 2017, and was found to be one of the breeds preferred for egg production under semi-scavenging and scavenging conditions.

    “The dual purpose FUNAAB Alpha attains 2.1 to 2.6kg at 20 weeks for males; 1.6 to 1.8kg for females, while eggs are improved from white to brown from 60 to 120 eggs per annum to 200 to 250 eggs per annum,” he said.

    He commended the team of scientists, led by Prof Olufunmilayo Adebambo, who worked tirelessly on the project for 24 years.

    Salako also appreciated the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the major stakeholders who funded the establishment of the “Pearl-FUNAAB Chicken Breeding Center” in the University for the Project in 2014.

    He called on other stakeholders and the Federal Government to support the movement so as to ensure the sustainability of the project.

    “I know that this project needs to be sustained for the next 20 to 25 years with the chicken products available to meet the demands of rural households.

    “The sustainability shall be a culinary delight to Nigerians who still prefer local chicken and the university management is already meeting with Adebambo on the sustainability of the project,” he added.

    Adebambo, the Lead Researcher, said the project was borne out of a challenge given to her by the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Nimbe Adedipe, to work on the genetic improvement of local chickens in Nigeria.

    According to her, the expected national concept of the project is innovation solutions for indigenous animal breeds.

    She, however, lamented the non-availability of funding for research programmes as well as Nigeria having just one Animal Research Centre.

    “Nigeria spent 18 million dollars on chicken importation in 2009 alone. If the government spends half of that money on developing local breeds; imagine what that will translate to,” she said.

    She appealed to the Federal Government to establish an indigenous breeding centre for the South and also involve stakeholders in poultry and research development.

    NACGRAB Director Dr Sunday Aladele, while presenting the certificate to the vice-chancellor, commended the university for supporting the principal breeder to come up with this achievement.

    He said FUNAAB was one of the few universities that came up to register its crop varieties and advised it to work with relevant agencies so as to popularise the chicken breed.

  • FUNAAB dept holds fashion show

    The Department of Home Science and Management has transformed the College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC) to a colourful setting for a fashion show to showcase clothes made by 400-level students of Clothing and Textiles.

    The students had the challenge of designing styles suitable for a birthday party of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and making clothes and dresses suitable for an award/dinner as part of their practical and Continuous Assessment for the course, Advanced Tailoring Techniques.

    The course lecturer, Prof Adetoun Amubode, said they would be graded for their skills in designing the clothes as well as movement, posture, and confidence in modeling it.

    COLFSHE Dean, Prof Michael Idowu, said the show was an opportunity for the students to showcase their work and learn how to organise fashion events after graduation, adding that the Clothing and Textile course empowers students to be job creators.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kolawole Salako, represented by the Dean, College of Engineering, Prof Johnson Adewunmi, praised the event’s uniqueness and glamour.  He also praised the students for taking up the profession, which would help them become entrepreneurs.

    HSM Acting Head of Department, Dr Abolanle Lasode, thanked the university Management for the support.  She credited Amubode for the idea and urged the students to wear their designs.

    Highlights of the event included the Fashion Parade by the students’ models, staff Kimbo and exhibition and jumbo sales.

    Heads of various Departments, other lecturers and staff of COLFHEC also graced the event.

  • Eight FUNAAB alumni for training

    A eight graduates of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) are among the successful candidates selected by the Flour Mills Nigeria One Year Graduate Trainee Programme.

    The Dean, Student Affairs, Prof Babatunde Idowu, who disclosed this in correspondence, said the students were subjected to  rigorous tests and assessments before their final selection.

    The beneficiaries are: Kikelomo Olanipekun, Titilayo Amodemaja and Nurudeen Oyelami who graduated from the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management; Mololuwa Abe and Johnson Adebori (Soil Science and Land Management); Abiona Ogunmuyiwa (Horticulture) and Ikechukwu Nwanze and Opeyemi Ajuwon, ( Plant Physiology and Crop Production).

    Idowu said the programme was ongoing and that the Student Affairs Unit would invite more graduates of the university for referral to the Flour Mills Nigeria Agro-Allied for further assessments.

  • FUNAAB alumni donate 10 buses

    To boost transportation of students within and outside campus, the Alumni Association of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has supported the institution with 10 mini-Suzuki branded buses.

    Presenting the buses to the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Kolawole Salako, the association’s President, Mr. Olusola Tobun, said the shuttle buses were meant to support the movement of students within the university and neighbouring communities like Isolu, Harmony Estate, the First Gate, Hostels, Farm, and other locations.

    Tobun also spoke of plans to add bigger buses, promising that the fares would be affordable.

    Responding, the VC thanked the Association for the noble gesture, which he said was timely in addressing the transportation challenge which had been giving Management concern.

    “Last Monday, we had just seven buses working, but by today, we can boast of about 12 and more are still being repaired. Management has started reviewing students’ time table so that we don’t have too many students coming to the park at the same time. We are going to engage the student union to sensitise the students to always come in such a way that the batches will be convenient for the buses to pick them according to their time table,” he said.

    Lauding the association further, Salako disclosed that only recently, the Alumni donated N1 million to the university to computerise the Exams and Records Unit to facilitate the processing of transcripts.

    He assured the association of the highest level of transparency in the utilisation of the fund, adding that a committee, which would include two alumni  would be set up to oversee the spending of the funds and report to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) and the Registrar.

    The VC solicited more support saying: “We will be expecting more support from the alumni. My thanks to every alumnus, those around and even those in diaspora and we want to believe we would have stronger ties.”

  • FUNAAB: Court strikes out EFCC suit against Ogunlewe, ex-VC

    •Accused discharges, acquitted of wrongdoing

    An Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, yesterday struck out the corruption charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe; the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Olusola Oyewole and the Bursar of the institution, Mr Moses Ilesanmi.

    The court, presided over by Justice Olatokunbo Majekodunmi, also discharged and acquitted the three for the fraud allegations.

    The accused were in court and heard Justice Majekodunmi pronounce their acquittal.

    The judge held that the anti-graft agency failed to establish a prima facie case against the trio.

    The EFCC, in November 2016, charged Ogunlewe, Oyewole and Ilesanmi to court separately and jointly on an 18-count charge bordering on alleged stealing, abuse of office and fraudulent conversion of the university property.

    Ogunlewe was the Pro-Chancellor of FUNAAB and the other two were principal officers of the institution.

    They were arrested by EFCC operatives following a petition by some concerned workers of the university.

    The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court granted them bail.

    Following the arraignment, Ogunlewe announced his resignation as the institution’s Pro-Chancellor, citing personal reasons; Oyewole bowed out on May 23, last year, after completing his five-year tenure as vice chancellor.

    Delivering judgment yesterday in the 18-month-old suit, Justice Majekodunmi held that the EFCC failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt all the allegations against the accused.

    The judge averred that the evidence presented by the prosecution had been manifestly and thoroughly discredited during cross-examination to the extent that the court could not rely on them.

    The judge dismissed the suit for lacking in merit, discharged and acquitted the accused.

  • ‘FUNAAB on course in academic, research goals’

    The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), is on course in its academic and research goals, Vice Chancellor Prof. Kolawole Salako said yesterday.

    He reiterated the commitment of the institution in setting goals and attaining greater heights.

    Salako spoke at a news conference to mark the 30th anniversary of the university.

    According to him, the university “is known throughout Africa as a leading champion of food security, environmental resources and agricultural research through its research engagement with national and international stakeholders.”

    He added that the institution has led in the implementation of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-sponsored project, tagged: ‘Cassava: Adding Value for Africa (CAVA2) in Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania and Ghana’ , “in collaboration with our technical partners, NRI, UK and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan (IITA).

    Salako listed some of the university’s commercialised research outputs as UNAAB Fufu, UNAAB Alpha Broilers, Honey Bee Products, FUNAAB Cashew Nuts, FUNAAB Palm wine, Value Added Rabbit Product, Locally Sourced Passion Fruit, UNAAB Textiles and Woodcraft, Medicinal Plant Products and Value-added Products (cosmetics).

    The institution is running 179 programmes, comprising  29 undergraduate courses, 109 graduate courses (which include 23 postgraduate diploma, 44 Master’s programmes and 42 doctoral programmes) in 47 departments and 10 colleges.

    Accolades won by the school include: Best University in Nigeria 2005, by the National Universities Commission; National Universities Commission’s First Place Prize as the Best Research University (2004 and 2005); Best University in Nigeria in October 2008 by the Industrial Training Fund; Best University for Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) Programme; World Bank Step-B Project (2007-2009); Maiden Award at the 1st National Mathematics Competition and the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence in Agriculture.

    Others include ‘the Second Best University in Nigeria’, of 120 universities, and 29th among 814 higher institutions in Africa in 2013 Webometrics Ranking of World Universities.

    With this ranking, FUNAAB was rated the Best University of Agriculture in Africa and eighth best in the world.

    Salako listed challenges,  in human resources; water, electricity and road; teaching, agricultural and laboratory facilities; hostel facilities; and unstable academic calendar.

    Presenting a 12-point agenda during his inauguration on November 1, the vice chancellor said he would provide leadership through democracy, diligence and discipline; promotion of research and scholarship; teaching and learning environment.

    Others are entrepreneurship; community development; infrastructural development and maintenance health services and sports; security and information dissemination; virile staff unions and welfare, students’ union and welfare; income generation and fund-raising.

  • Diversify the economy now, says FUNAAB VC

    Diversify the economy now, says FUNAAB VC

    The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Prof Felix Salako, has joined the call on Federal Government  to move away from  oil resources and embrace agriculture, as a sustainable route to national development.

    The Vice-Chancellor stated this while declaring open the facilitation and communication skills training programme that was organised in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital by the Cassava, Adding Value for Africa II (CAVA II) Nigeria Project, for Agricultural Development Programmes’ (ADPs) extension officers and procurement staff of large-scale cassava producers.

    Salako, observed that “We are having new generation of extension officers. All of you sitting here are young, seeing your faces; I think we are meeting new generation of extension officers. And I hope you are really going to be the catalyst that would push the nation forward in terms of using agriculture as an alternative to crude oil export. It is dawning on everybody now – whether we like it or not – we are running into trouble with oil. What may even make oil to be useless in the fact that people are already thinking of alternative source of energy, even for running cars. The training could not have come at a better time than now”.

    Salako added that “We are ready to partner to strengthen the skills of workers; extension agents in particular, using participatory and adult-learning methodology, to enhance timely and sustained supply of cassava root by small medium farmers. We are confident that the completion of course will make you better and help in building your capacity to aid effective facilitation and communication with farmers. As extension officers, you need to step up your roles and duties in contributing to the development of our nation. You need to develop good relationship with farmers and subsequently, use these skills to connect yourself. And one thing that has come to fore these days is that farmers did not trust agriculturists anymore. You must be ready to convince the farmer, even to listen to you”.

    “So, you need a lot of effort to be able to convince farmers about innovation these days and this is where I think you have Herculean tasks, being agricultural extension agents. I want to tell you that the information and feedbacks we get from farmers are not that good. The Vice-Chancellor noted that it was crucial to put together the training, aimed at enhancing facilitation and communication skills of participants in having better knowledge of life-changing management, saying that this approach of engaging both extension agents of the state ADPs and procurement executives of cassava-processing factories would definitely achieve the desired results.

    The Country Manager of CAVA II (Nigeria) and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development) Designate of FUNAAB, Professor Lateeef Sanni, recalled that the issue of inconsistency in the supply of raw materials was a major and critical point for the survival of large scale industries, noting that sourcing for raw materials of between 250 and 450 tonnes of cassava required quite a lot of work. “We are aware that you have different locations where you source for raw material but at present, there are some issues we have itemised in the last two years – right quality, right quantity and right time of supply – which should be urgently addressed”, he stated.

    “The major problem is that the farmers themselves have informed us that some of the extension officers or procurement officers are delaying their payments, which is attitudinal and that’s why we felt its better we bring in a consultant that will interact with you on facilitation, communication and sustainable engagement”, he disclosed. Meanwhile, to further boost agricultural production, CASSAVA 2017TECH Conference was earlier hosted by CAVA II (Nigeria), in conjunction with FUNAAB and other development partners, to bring together actors involved in cassava processing-equipment manufacturers, fabricators, financiers, scientists and engineers in West and Central African countries, to discuss latest development in the cassava industry.

  • FUNAAB’s SSANU, NASU, other join strike

    FUNAAB’s SSANU, NASU, other join strike

    Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, was deserted on Monday as members of the Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU), Non – Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) and National Association of Technologists (NAAT) of the  embarked upon industrial action in compliance with directives from their respective national bodies.

    The SSANU chairman, Rotimi Fasunwon, said they began the indefinite strike as directed by national leadership to compel the federal government to implement the 2009 agreement with the union, adequately fund the nation’s universities and fractionalization of salaries among others.

    Also, his NASU counterpart, Com. Isiaq Odunjo, said part of the reason for the strike is non registration of university pension scheme, bad governance and corruption in the university system.

    But Mr. Adewale Kupoluyi of the Directorate of Public Relations, FUNAAB told The Nation that the striking non – academic staff were acting on the directive of their national bodies.

    “The decision taken by the non-teaching staff unions, under the aegis of Joint Action Council (JAC), to embark on strike, was a national one. What happened in FUNAAB, could be seen as a response to the national directive,” Adewale said.

    Meanwhile, the non-teaching staff of Nigerian universities on Monday said they would meet to decide on a date to meet with Federal Government over the indefinite strike embarked by the unions.

    It will be recalled that the non-teaching staff of universities under the auspices of Joint Action Committee (JAC) had threatened to embark on an indefinite strike from Monday, September 11 over non-implementation of the 2009 agreement.

    Mr Samson Ugwoke, the President of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) made this known in a phone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

    “We have commenced the strike today; the strike is total, comprehensive and indefinite. We only just got a letter from the Ministry of Labour and Employment inviting us for a meeting today,” Ugwoke said.

  • FUNAAB council, unions meet

    Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Dr Aboki Zhawa, has set a six-month target to enhance the council’s relationship with unions in the institution.

    Zhawa spoke when he met with leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

    He said as leaders, they had to work together to promote the university’s growth.

    “If you can’t contribute to the system, don’t ground the system. God didn’t put you in that position to destroy, but to lead. If we must serve together, we must start leading together,” he said.

    On his part, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ololade Enikuomehin, lauded the Pro-Chancellor for mooting the idea of informal interactive session, adding that the University had never had such an opportunity.

    He said the Governing Council was desirous of providing a meeting point for the system to move forward.

    The Chairman, ASUU-FUNAAB, Dr Adebayo Oni, assured the Council and the University administration of the union’s commitment to collaborating with them to move FUNAAB to greater heights.

    However, he urged the Council to “ensure transparency, fairness and compliance with our extant laws”.

    Chairman, NAAT, Comrade Oluremi Olurinde, described the meeting by the council as starting well and prayed for the relationship to continue.

    “For us, these Council members are starting well and I pray you will end well. By the time this Council would be handing over, we shall all gather like this, to celebrate the achievements recorded,” he said.

    He however prayed the Council to stop to the practice of locking up laboratories by 4pm, as opposed to the practice of running laboratories 24 hours.

    NASU Chairman, Comrade Ishaq Odunjo, underscored the importance of peace, saying: “There is no doubt in it that we need peace, not only between unions, Management and Council, but also among the respective unions.”

    Similarly, SSANU Chairman, Comrade Rotimi Fasunwon, said it was rare for all the unions to come together, adding, “In my 14 to 15 years of working in this University, I have never partaken in this kind of programme”.

    Other members of council present lauded the meeting, which they said provided a platform for reconciliation and unity.

  • FUNAAB student needs N12m for kidney transplant

    FUNAAB student needs N12m for kidney transplant

    A Final year student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Miss Love Fericsope Ologun, 21, has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.

    She needs N12million to undergo a kidney transplant.

    Her mother, Mrs Funmilayo Ologun, said Love had not been very healthy since she was a child.

    She was always falling sick. However, after the age of three, she didn’t fall sick for while until she got into secondary school.

    “She has always been on and off the hospital bed, but after she was three, she became more stable. She was stable till she got into secondary school.They kept calling us, almost every month that we should come and take care of her because she has been admitted.The doctors don’t really tell me what was wrong anytime I go to the hospital.The doctors treat, talk to her and tell me to make sure she uses her drugs every day,’’ her mother said.

    Immediately after secondary school, Love secured admission into FUNNAB to study Business Administration. During her second semester examination for 300 Level  last October, she only managed to sit for her exams.

    She was admitted to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, where she had been receiving treatment before. At the hospital, Love had three sessions of dialysis and was later discharged in November.

    About two weeks later, Love was admitted again. ’’When she was admitted, we had already given up hope; but thank God for prayers.  Her friends also came over and donated blood for her. Later, the doctor told us  that the dialysis machine was not functioning well, and referred us to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.

    “On our way to the hospital in December, she collapsed at the gate of OOUTH. I was so scared, I was just shouting.We took her  to the Emergency Ward and she was stabilised. It  was there the  doctor that told us she needs kidney transplant and that we would need between N8million and N12million for it.The doctor told us not to be quiet about our situation to speak up so that well-meaning Nigerians could help us and save  Love’s life ,’’ Mrs Ologun added.

    The mother said anyone who wanted to help Love could contact them via   08037128147 or 08038507433.

    Donation could also be  sent to Ologun Love Ferisope’s Guaranty Trust Bank(GTBank) Account Number 0142237435, she added.