Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Federal University Of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

Type	Public
Established	January, 1988
Location	Abeokuta , Ogun State , Nigeria
Website	www.unaab.edu.ng

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, or FUNAAB, (FUNAAB) was established on 1 January 1988 by the Federal Government when four universities of technology, earlier merged in 1984, were demerged. This led to the creation of the first two universities of agriculture in Abeokuta and Makurdi.

On the same date, Professor Nurudeen Olorun-Nimbe Adedipe was appointed the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the university. Professor Adedipe officially assumed duty on 28 January 1988. For many years the date which Professor Adedipe assumed duty was wrongly adopted as the foundation day. Following a revisit to the instrument setting up the university, a council decision at its 53rd statutory meeting in June 2010 reverted the foundation date to 1 January 1988 as prescribed by the law which established the university.

Prior to the emergence of FUNAAB, the Federal Government had established the Federal University of Technology, Abeokuta (FUTAB) in 1983. Then, in 1984, it was merged with the University of Lagos and had its name changed to the College of Science and Technology, Abeokuta (COSTAB), before the demerger of January, 1988.

The university started off from the old campus of Abeokuta Grammar School, Isale-Igbein near the city centre. It completed its movement to its permanent site along Alabata Road in 1997.

At the initial stage, five colleges were introduced in the university in October 1988 as follows:

• College of Agricultural Management, Rural development and Studies (COLAMRUCS)
• College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM)
• College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM)
• College of Natural Sciences (COLNAS)
• College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT)

Two additional Colleges, College of Engineering (COLENG) and College of Veterinary Medicine (COLVET) were introduced in March, 2002. During the 2008/2009 session, the College of Agricultural Management, Rural Development and Consumer Studies was split into two, with two new colleges emerging as follows:

• College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC)
• College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development (COLAMRUD)

The newest college is College of Management Sciences (COLMAS)

The university is one of the three universities of agriculture in Nigeria, the other being in Makurdi (Benue State) and Umudike(Abia State). The university started at its mini-campus in Isale-Igbein in the heart of Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State. In December 1997 it moverd to its permanent site on a 10,000-hectare campus which is located next to the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority on the Abeokuta-Ibadan road in the North Eastern end of the city, 15 km from Abeokuta City Centre.

Governing council

The first council was constituted on 18 May 1989 under the chairmanship of Alhaji Muhammadu Jega, former Head of Service and Secretary to the Sokoto State Government. On 1 September 1990, the council was reconstituted with some changes for five years with Alhaji Muhammadu Jega retained as Chairman. The second governing council was constituted in 2000 for five years, with Alhaji Sanni Bagiwa Idris as Chairman. The third council came on board in 2005 and was dissolved in November, 2007 by the Federal Government. Elder Brigadier General (Rtd.) Bassey Asuquo, a one-time Military Administrator of Kogi, Edo and Delta States respectively, was the Chairman. The fourth council was constituted in January 2009 with Mr. Raphael Oluwole Osayameh as Chairman and immediate past Pro-Chancellor. Chief Lawrence Ayinde Osayemi was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council. Now Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe Kingsley is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council.

Chancellors

Since inception, FUNAAB has had three Chancellors:

• His Royal Highness Alhaji Kabir Umar, the Emir of Katagum in Bauchi State, appointed in 1989,
• His Royal Highness Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, the Oba of Lagos (now late). He served from 2001-2003,
• The current Chancellor is His Royal Majesty, Obi (Prof.) Joseph Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba in Delta State, a retired Professor of Medicine of the University of ibadan

Vice-Chancellors

• The foundation Vice-Chancellor was Professor Nurudeen Adepipe, who served for two terms of four years each: 8 January 1988 to 31 December 1991 and 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1995,
• The second Vice-Chancellor was Professor Julius Amioba Okojie, who acted from 1 January 1996 till 2 September 1996, when he became a substantive Vice-Chancellor and served for one term of five year which ended on 31 August, 2001,
• The third Vice-Chancellor was Professor Israel Folorunso Adu, who served from 1 September 2001 to 31 August 2006.
• Professor Ishola Adamson acted as Vice-Chancellor from 1 September 2006 till 24 May 2007 when the fourth Vice-Chancellor was appointed in person of Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun till 23 May 2012.
• Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole was appointed the fifth substantive Vice-Chancellor at the 70th Statutory Meeting of the University’s Governing Council of Friday, 20 April 2012.He assumed office on 24 May 2012 - till date.

Deputy Vice-Chancellors

• Professor G. M. Babatunde: 1 September 1994
• Professor Julius Okojie: 1 October 1994 to 31 December 1995
• Professor I. F. Adu: December, 2000 (2 terms)
• Professor T.O. Tayo: 7 December 2000 to 6 December 2004 (2 terms)
• Professor A.R.T. Solarin: 7 December 2004 to 6 December 2006.
• Professor I.C. Eromosele, DVC (Academic): 14 September 2007 to 17 September 2009.
• Professor O.J. Ariyo, DVC (Development): 14 September 2007 to 17 September 2009.
• Professor S.T.O Lagoke, DVC (Development): 18 September 2009 to 2011.
• Professor C.F.I Onwuka, DVC (Academic): 18 September 2009 to 2011.
• Professor T.A. Arowolo, DVC (Academic): 2011 to December 2013.
• Professor F. K. Salako, DVC (Development): 2011 to date.
• Professor M. A. Waheed, DVC (Academic): 2014 to date.

While the first five were the only Deputy Vice-Chancellors during their respective tenures, Professors Eromosele and Ariyo were appointed simultaneously as the first set of two Deputy Vice-Chancellors for the University, an initiative of the then Vice-Chancellor, Professor O.O. Balogun.

Other Principal officers

Registrar

• Mrs. C.A. Soboyejo was the first Registrar, from 1 October 1989 to 30 June 1998.
• Mr. A. Oyerinde was Registrar from June 1998 till 19 September 2000 before he became the substantive Registrar on 20 September 2000.
• The present Agricultural Registrar is Mr. A.O. Adeboye.
• The third substantial Registrar, who is the incumbent, is Mr. Matthew Odunlade AYOOLA.

Bursar

• Pastor. S.T. Osamiluyi, the first bursar, served from 1 October 1989 to 17 October 1999.
• Rev. E.A. Ajayi,
• The present Bursar is Mr. M.O. Ilesanmi.

Librarian

• Dr. T.M. Salisu served from 4 February 1991 to 3 February 2001.
• The present Librarian is Mr. A.A. Agboola.

Awards/honours/laurels

The university was awarded the best university in the country by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) consecutively in the year 2002 and 2003. Prof. Israel F. Adu: - NUC Best Vice-Chancellor (Maiden) 2004, 2006 - Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Outstanding Leadership Merit 2003 - Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Science 2006

Prof. (Mrs.) Olufunmilayo Adebambo - First Female Professor of Animal breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology in Nigeria 1996 - Royal Society of England Third World Fellowship 1996 - Only female among 34 Scientists to win $7500 World Bank Assisted Research Grant 2004 - Outstanding Research at the 1st and 2nd NUC Research fair for poultry breeds development in Nigeria 2005

Prof. Peter A. Okuneye: - Millennium Medal of Honour 1992 - Nigerian Agricultural Merit Award 1992 - NAMA Winner 1999 - American Biographical Institutes MAN OF THE YEAR 2000 - Fellow, Nigerian Farmers' Institute (FNFI)

Prof. A.M. Omotayo: - Welcome Trust Research Grants 2000-05 - Visiting Fellow, African Studies Centre, The Netherlands 2003 - Adviser, IFS, Sweden 2005 - Nestle Foundation International 2006-07 - PropCom/DFID Grant 2007

Prof. E.B. Oguntona: - Fellow, World Poultry 1995 - President, World Poultry Science Association-Nigeria 1998-2004 - Fellow, Nutrition Society of Nigeria 2003 - President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria 2005

Prof. O.B. Oyewole: - IFS Grant 1986 - 1998 - IFS/King Baudouin Award 1992 - IFS/Danida Award 1999

Prof. L.O. sanni: - Fellow, NIFST 2008 - CGIAR Award on Technological Development in Africa 2008 - IITA Outstanding Performance Award 2005 - Best Oral Presenter at the 7th ACSC, Entebbe, Uganda 2005 - CTA Travel Grants, Kenya, Netherlands Abidjan-Côte d'Ivoire 2006, 2007 - IITA Travel Grants Colombia, Malaysia, Cameroon, Brazil, Uganda, India, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique 2004-2007 - EU Travel Grant, United Kingdom 2004-2006 - DFID travel Grant, United Kingdom 2003, 2006 - Junior Chambers' Outstanding Young Person in Academic Leadership and Accomplishment in Nigeria 2001 - IFS Travel Grants, India, Burkina Faso, Japan, Netherlands, Cameroon 1999 - IFS Research Grant 1997, 1999, 2000 - Second Prize in Young Scientist Paper Presentation Competition, ibadan. 2003 - World bank/NUC/PIU Fellowship, UK 1996-2003, 1995-1996

Prof. Olusegun A. Osinowo: - Fellow, The Nigerian Society of Animal Production 2000

Prof. Adewale R.T. Solarin: - African Millenium Mathematical Science Research Fellowship, South Africa 2005

Prof. (Mrs.) Daisy Eruvbetine: - President, World Poultry Science Association-Nigeria 2006 - Member of Winning Team representing UNAAB at NUC Research fair, Abuja 2004

Prof. A.M. Bamgbose: - Member of Winning Team representing UNAAB at NUC Research fair, Abuja 2005

Prof. S.T.O. Lagoke: - SAFGRAD/AAU/Korean Govt. Fund USAID/IITN 1999 - ADIA TN Grant 2001 - FAO Grant 2002 - SAFGRAD Travel Grant Burkina Faso 2007

Prof. C.O.N. Ikeobi: - CIDA Travel Grant Canada 1994 - ICGEB Workshop Grant, Nigeria 1996 - Roll of Honour of the Nigerian Society for Animal Production 1997 - IORC Travel Scholarship, Senegal 2000 - Commonwealth Staff Fellowship, UK 2000 - Visiting Scientist, Edinburgh, UK 2001 - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Travel Grant 2001 - ILRI Fellowship 2001 - Visiting Scientist, ILRI, Kenya 2004 - CTA Sponsorship on CTA/UNAAB Regional Course 2004 - ILRI Workshop sponsorship

Mr. Moses Ilesanmi: - Fellow ICAN

Academic programmes

The university has 179 academic programmes made up of 44 undergraduate programmes, 135 graduate programmes which include 22 Postgraduate diploma programmes, 57 Masters degree programmes and 56 Doctorate degree programmes.

University colleges are:

• College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development - COLAMRUD;
• College of Animal Science and Livestock Production - COLANIM;
• College of Plant Science and Crop Production - COLPLANT;
• College of Environmental Resources Management - COLERM;
• College of Natural Sciences - COLNAS;
• College of Veterinary Medicine - COLVET;
• College of Engineering - COLENG;
• College of Food Science and Human Ecology - COLFHEC;
• Postgraduate School

Academic Planning Unit

The Academic Planning Unit is the quality control unit of the university and the link between the university and the National Universities Commission. It is at the centre of all planning activities of the University. The unit is headed by a Director, Professor M.A. Waheed, a Principal Planning Officer, Mr. O.O. Bamgbose and other Planning Officers (Mrs. A.A. Akintunde, Mr. A.O. Kuforiji and Mr. S.A. Dada).

Library

‘Nimbe Adedipe Library' was named in honour of the first Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Nurudeen Olorunnimbe Adedipe. The library building can accommodate 1000 users at a time. The total collection of books at present is 51,000 titles.

The library started its automation programme in 1994 when it acquired through a World Bank Project, an IBM personal computer and the TINLIB library software designed for four work stations. This was later upgraded to ten work stations. The library has since migrated from the DOS based TINLIB software to a more versatile windows based GLAS (Graphical Library Automated System) software with the capability to operate 50 work stations within the library. OPAC is fully functional making it possible to catalogue books on line and for library clients to access such books immediately.

The establishment of centres helps to enhance research and development in the university. The centres include:

• Agricultural Media Resources and Extension centre (AMREC),
• Biotechnological Centre,
• Centre for Human Resources Development (CENHURD),
• Leventis Memorial Centre for Learning,
• Information and Communication Technology Research Centre (ICTREC),
• The Health Centre,
• Institute of food Security,
• Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research,
• Teaching Farms,
• UNAAB International School,
• UNAAB Staff School,
• School of Arts
• UNAAB Consult.

ICTREC

ICTREC is the Information and Communication Technology Resource Centre

• Director - Dr. F.A. Oguntoye.
• Senior System Analyst - Akinola Oluwatoyin Charles

Partnerships

The University has collaborative partnerships with institutions and establishments, including:

• International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan
• National Seed Services (NSS), Ibadan
• National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi
• National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike
• Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin
• National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Zaria
• Farm Management Association of Nigeria (FAMAN)
• Ogun State Agricultural Development Project (OGADEP), Abeokuta
• Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources of both Ogun and Lagos states
• Federal Ministry of Environment
• National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA)
• National Agricultural Research Project (NARP)
• Pan-African Striga Control Network (PASCON), Accra
• West African Rice Development Agency (WARDA), Ivory Coast
• Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Oshodi, Lagos
• Nestle Foods Plc.

Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) have been signed with the institutions and collaboration activities are in progress.

At the international level, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), has entered into collaboration with the university in the areas of training and seminars. The British Council has established an academic link programme between FUNAAB and the University of Reading, and the University of Edinburgh, primarily, though not exclusively, in the areas of Plant and Animal Breeding and Seed Technology and Genetics, respectively. Others include Maclary Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland, in the area of Sustainabe Development, and the West African Rice Development Association in Rice Science.

• The activities/projects carried out in the centre include:
• Processing of staff application forms for Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) approval.
• Processing of application forms of staff sponsored by the University Management on Capacity Building Training Programmes in foreign countries.
• Processing and placement of academic staff on Ph.D, M.Sc and Ph.D bench work sponsored by TETFUND under Academic Staff Training and Development (AST&D) training programme in foreign institutions.

Achievements of the Centre for Internationalisation and Partnerships (CENIP)

• CENIP has processed TETFUND Conference Intervention Grants for members of staff to attend international conferences.
• CENIP has processed the placement of 26 academic staff on Ph.D, M.Sc and Ph.D bench work programmes sponsored by TETFUND under the Academic Staff Training & Development (AST&D) in foreign institutions.
• Federal University of Agriculture Foreign African Scholarship Scheme (FUFASS), facilitated and sponsored by Federal University Agriculture, Abeokuta has graduated twenty-One students from the Republics of Sierra-Leone, Liberia and the Gambia under the Skills Acquisition Programmes of the university.
• CENIP has trained members of staff under the FUNAAB Staff Capacity Building/Training Programmes in foreign countries.
• CENIP has organized four international lectures and two international workshops/trainings in conjunction with international organizations.

External links

• Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta
• Nigerian Universities Commission