THE Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has said that the university would remain committed to academic and research activities towards nation-building.
He said this at a press conference to mark the 30th anniversary of the University, held at the Senate Chambers on Monday, that staff and students of the University had continued to fly its name through academic excellence and ground-breaking research results.
Salako flanked by his deputies on Academic and Development, Professors Lateef Sanni and Morenike Dipeolu respectively, explained that the university is a leading champion in the continent of Africa in the area of food security, environmental resources and agricultural research.
The VC added noted that the University won $18.8m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Cassava Adding Value for Africa Phase II (CAVA) and that the University through the project had contributed to the agricultural component of the transformational agenda of the present administration.
“The CAVA Phase II project is expected to bring about the socioeconomic transformation of affected nations by stimulating employment, foreign earnings and producing favourable balance of payment through remarkable reduction in the importation of goods into the countries as well as confer on the University,” he added.
He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to grant approval for the university to recruit staff in its areas of need,also adding government to purchase and provide equipment in all laboratories and farms through funds and grants.
Salako also called on well meaning Nigerians and private sectors interventions to support the university through provision of hostel facilities.
“Our hostels are grossly inadequate. The efforts of the Federal Government through various financial interventions are commendable. We need endowments and private sector interventions, ” the VC said.
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