The VC, Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun, addressing journalists during the Press Conference: From left is the Correspondents’ Chapel’s Chairman, Mr. Kehinde Akinyemi; DD(PR), Mr. `Lasun Somoye; VC-designate, Prof. Olusola Oyewole; CERECOM Chairman, Prof. Tunde Idowu and the Ogun NUJ Chairman, Mr. Tunde Sodeke.
The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun has traced the problems facing the education sector to policy inconsistencies, occasioned by incessant changes of ministers.
Professor Balogun gave this insight while fielding questions from journalists during a press conference, heralding the 20th Convocation Ceremony and his Valedictory programme as Vice-Chancellor.
He noted that the bane of the nation’s education sector was more of external than internal, saying the country had no long-term plan for creating access into the University system.
He disclosed that with the right policies and adequate funding, Universities would be better equipped to expand their scope and admit more students.
Highlighting the FUNAAB experience, he said the National Universities Commission (NUC) approved the creation of the College of Management Sciences in the University during the last academic session without any financial support from the government.
The new College had started academic activities with its first set of students in the Departments of Accountancy, Banking and Finance, Business Enterprise Management, Entrepreneurial Studies and Economics.
On the feasibility of the University having a Zoological Garden, the Vice-Chancellor said the project, which was funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) was near completion and would soon be commissioned.
Professor Balogun disclosed that the University graduated a total of 1,349 first degree graduands from eight Colleges, while 349 bagged various higher degrees of Ph. Ds, Masters and Postgraduate Diplomas.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, out of the 1,349 graduands in the undergraduate level, 39 made First Class, 472 were in the Second Class (Upper Division), 607 Second Class (Lower Division), 187 in the Third Class Division, while 44 had Pass Degrees.
Speaking on behalf of the Ogun State chapters of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Tunde Sodeke and Mr. Kehinde Akinyemi, respectively, lauded the Vice-Chancellor for his contributions to the development of the Fourth Estate of the Realm and the education sector in general.
The Correspondents’ Chapel later presented the Vice-Chancellor with a Letter of Award as a “Distinguished Public Administrator”, in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in office.