The Daily Crucible | Sunday, October 9, 2022
Former President, Chief.Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, has done a candid appraisal of the tenure of the outgoing Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako and summed it up with a declarative verdict, "You have managed FUNAAB Successfully."
Chief Obasanjo thumbed up for Prof. Salako whose tenure is successfully tilting and inching to an end on October 31, few days time when the Vice Chancellor led the Alhaji Umar Ahmed-led new Governing Council of the University on a maiden familiarization visit to him at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
Seated in between the new Pro-Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor, Chief Obasanjo while reacting to the tenure of office of Prof Salako declared:
"Now that you have managed FUNAAB Successfully,may be I can now make you a farmer".
The renowned Farmer continued, " We've had some good Vice Chancellor's and we've also had uumh...too but Prof.Salako has done well".
Speaking further, the former nation helmsman lauded the mandatory five year tenure of office allotted to Vice Chancellors saying it has enhanced stability and succession plan in the Ivory Towers.
Dissecting FUNAAB since inception, Chief Obasanjo said, "This University that I'm very close to has done a lot in achieving the purpose for which it was set up"
Specifically,he pointed out that, "I am directly and indirectly a beneficiary of your products in terms of your graduates who are doing very well in core agriculture and agric business or what have you,as well as your agricultural produce".
Chief Obasanjo explained that "The point I'm driving at is the importance of Universities of Agriculture as the centre point of national development" through wealth creation and employment generation, among others.
He charged Agriculture based Universities and relevant stake holders to integrate and leverage on agricbusiness, in order to maximize and fully utilize the value chains in Agriculture.
Earlier, while receiving the the new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council,Alhaji Umar Ahmed and his members, Chief Obasanjo welcomed him warmly to Abeokuta,Ogun State,his Presidential Library and to FUNAAB, assuring of his support and cooperation and wishing the Council mission accomplishment.
He also welcomed the Vice Chancellor saying, "I think I can now address you as outgoing Vice Chancellor".
Earlier in his short introductory remark, Prof.Salako stated that "I'm happy to be here as outgoing Vice Chancellor to introduce the newly inaugurated Governing Council to you sir".
Prof.Salako recalled that the tenure of the Dr.Aboki Zhawa-led immediate past Governing Council tenure ended in May 2021.
He stressed that between May 2021 and September 2022 the University was without Governing Council thereby raising concern considering the importance roles and responsibilities of Council,moreso that the end of his tenure as Vice Chancellor is around the corner.
He expressed joy that Federal Government eventually intervened with the inauguration of the new Governing Council on September 8,thus prompting the need to introduce and present the Chairman and members to the former President.
Addressing Chief Obasanjo,the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council,Alhaji Umar Ahmed thanked him for accepting to receive him and his members.
He solicited his "fatherly advise and support as we carry on our assignment."
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