NUC Team leader, Prof. Ilochi Okafor (centre), top officials of FUNAAB (left) and members of the team during the welcome reception. Inset; FUNAAB VC, Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun (left) in a warm handshake with the Team Leader, Prof. Ilochi Okafor.
The Team for the Institutional Accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC), currently on visit to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, has assured the Institution of its preparedness for due diligence in the accreditation of the University.
The Leader of the Team and former Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Prof. Ilochi Okafor, who stated this, stressed that the Team was also in the University to ascertain possible areas of intervention by the Federal Government, towards improving higher education standard in Nigeria.
Prof. Okafor, stated this during the Team’s Courtesy Visit to the Vice-Chancellor in the Council Chamber, before the commencement of the Accreditation Exercise.
According to the Team Leader, accreditation is of best interest not only to the University but to the education system of the nation at large, adding that “the exercise is coming at a very auspicious time when we are talking of sovereign wealth and fuel subsidy, then this exercise should be an opportunity to make case for infusion of more fund into the University system and the nation’s education sector at large.
Let us have what the University need to enhance positive international ranking. These are what we need and a good reason for why we are here”, Prof. Okafor enlightened.
Commending the University community, the Team Leader said, “your Campus is a beautiful sight to behold. On seeing the plantation before your gate, we knew that we are truly in a University of Agriculture”.
Later at the maiden meeting with the University community, in the Senate Chamber, the Team lauded the quality of infrastructural development and congenial ambience of the campus, coupled with the pace of its expansion, cooperation of the entire workforce, and the astute leadership qualities of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun.
Articulating the views of the eight-man Team, a member, Professor Julius Ikhatua, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman, said that FUNAAB, with all the facilities on ground within its short span of existence, is deserving of its local and international ratings.
Driving home his point, Prof. Ikhatua observed thus, “Your University is okay and our assignment here is to get the very best. We are here to do the work… and so, we want to live by the truth because it is the truth that sets free. Already, we have seen physically the great things that you have and we want to authenticate what you have put on paper, to verify what you have projected…
Mr. Vice-Chancellor is a hard-worker, a hard working man surrounded by very hard and thorough people cannot achieve anything less. And, I dare say looking at your rapid pace of development across all spheres, FUNAAB should be the standard to be given to excellence. And combine that with the power of faith, if you have faith you can achieve anything”.
Professor Ikhatua lauded the academic and non-teaching staff of the institution for their commitment and cooperation with the Management in making the university a worthwhile enterprise.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Balogun, disclosed that the institution had already done everything humanly possible to justify its present rating, while vigorously pushing ahead for the sustenance of excellence.
Professor Balogun, stated that the state of facilities and infrastructure in the University were not put on ground to hoodwink or for window dressing, but result of a deliberate and progressive effort of developing the University.