The University of Agriculture, Abeokuta has concluded its 4-day screening exercise for prospective students, offered provisional admission into the institution.
The main objective of the exercise is to ensure that shortlisted candidates are suitable and qualified to be admitted into the University.
Speaking to UNAAB Bulletin, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Chryss Onwuka, said the process had achieved the purpose for which it was designed as the essence of the exercise was to separate the ‘chaff from the wheat’.
He added that the exercise had always been thorough as security operatives, including officers of the State Security Services (SSS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Police, were engaged in assessing the prospective students.
Speaking in the same vein, Prof. Toyin Arowolo, who supervised the screening exercise at the Public Relations’ Conference Room, described the thrust of the screening as the need to carefully assess prospective students so as not to admit ‘bad eggs’.
He said, “checkout our location, we cannot afford to recruit bad eggs here and that is why UNAAB made it a point that we must screen those candidates even if they had passed”.
“Though, many came from poor homes as they couldn’t afford to buy a tie but that does not necessarily mean they should dress indecently or provocatively adding that we have been educating them on the need to dress appropriately”, he added.
Prof. Steve Afolami, who headed the screening Panel in Pension Boardroom I, disclosed that his team had been working late, to enable them do a thorough job, adding that the exercise had been very impressive. He disclosed that the students were well dressed.
According to him, “there has been improvement in the manner of dressing and generally, the interview has yielded good results”.
Similarly, Prof. Francis Bamiro, who headed the Pension Office Boardroom II exercise, further stressed the importance of the exercise to include, cross-checking the students’ credentials, educating them on how to behave and counselling on avoiding bad influences while on campus. In her remarks, Prof. (Mrs.) Bola Akeredolu-Ale, who headed the COLNAS Boardroom Screening Team, disclosed that the exercise was smooth and members of her group were able to impart the necessary instructions on students’ obligations, when they eventually come in as students.
“It would also be nice if at some point in time, after the admission
that we can also conduct this exercise because it is good at the entry point and I think it is better to hold such, even when they are already our students”, she noted. At the COLPLANT Boardroom Screening Centre, Prof. Segun Osinowo, who chaired the group, described the exercise as very encouraging adding that there was the likelihood of admitting 1st Class materials because, as he put it, his team had interviewed “exceptionally brilliant students, so far”.
At the COLAMRUD Boardroom, Prof. Babatunde Otesile, explained that the exercise had helped to identify undesirable elements, who demonstrated the traits of being trouble makers.
The head of the COLANIM Group, Prof. Michael Adetunji, described the exercise as worthwhile, stating that it went smoothly.
Speaking to UNAAB Bulletin, one of the prospective students said he hoped to come out tops in his class when admitted, saying that, he was absolutely sure of an admission.