The Ag. University Librarian, Dr. (Mrs.) Mulikat Salaam (1st Right), making a point during the Send-Forth programme, held in honour of the VC. Seated are VC’s wife, Prof. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Balogun; VC, Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun; Pro-Chancellor, Chief Lawrence Ayinde Olakunle Osayemi; VC-designate, Prof. Olusola Oyewole and DVC (A), Prof. Toyin Arowolo.
It has been noted that the out-going Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, who is reputed to have provided focused, effective and transparent leadership in the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), deserves to bow-out gracefully, having brought about unprecedented reforms to the University.
The Acting University Librarian, Dr. (Mrs.) Mulikat Salaam stated this, while giving her commendation on Prof. Balogun, at a Send-Forth programme, organised by the ‘Nimbe Adedipe Library, in honour of the out-going Vice-Chancellor.
According to the Acting University Librarian, “in the last five years, FUNAAB has witnessed unprecedented development in the area of physical and human resources; never experienced since the inception of this great University.”
She catalogued an array of the achievements of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, beginning with the “upgrading of the Glass House in the University Library, from a mere free space to an e-library”.
Dr. (Mrs.) Salaam disclosed that over 30,000 volumes of books were acquired, either through direct purchase, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) assistance or from private donations, since 2007 till date.
She said before the advent of the current administration, the main library provided its services centrally to the entire University community, adding that the services had now been decentralized, making some Colleges, namely; COLENG, COLMAS, COLNAS and COLVET proud owners of standard libraries.
“We also have the ultra-modern INHURD library, built with a seating capacity for about 150 users and 50,000 volumes of books; tastefully furnished, to serve the academic community of INHURD,” she added.
Others achievements include the creation of a Unit within the main library, to house the personal collections of the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nurudeen Olorun-nimbe Adedipe and the provision of a 200-KVA generator, to ameliorate the problems of incessant power outage which made the library to successfully operate a 24-hour service during examinations.
She enthused that during Prof. Balogun’s tenure, the number of library staff, both in the senior and junior categories increased geometrically, recalling an unprecedented development of recruiting 11 staff on Librarian II cadre at once, in 2010, thereby boosting total figure to 65.
“This is a feat which has never happened before in the history of any University library in this country,” she added.
Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University, Chief Lawrence Ayinde Olakunle Osayemi, described the event as an epoch, saying that available records indicated that it was the first time in the history of the University that an outgoing Vice-Chancellor will be spending almost a month in office together with the successor, before the official hand-over.
The Chairman equally observed that “it’s the first time we recorded a rancour-free succession plan,” he added.
He revealed that Prof. Balogun had left his mark on the sands of time in FUNAAB, disclosing that he will remain a reference point for a long period of time.
The Vice-Chancellor-designate, Prof. Olusola Bandele Oyewole, described the outgoing Vice-Chancellor as a role model, a visionary and an achiever, adding that he had set a standard that future Vice-Chancellors would try hard to surpass.
Responding, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun said FUNAAB had risen to an enviable pedestal and will never fall.