The VC, Prof. Olusola Oyewole (Left) listening attentively as the Vice-Chairman, Tantalizer Nig. Plc, Chief Folu Ayeni (2nd Right) makes salient points at a roundtable meeting. With them is the Registrar, Mr. Matthew Ayoola (2nd left) and a guest.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole has called on private investors and entrepreneurs to assist the University in the development of its commercial activities.
Professor Oyewole made the call at a round-table business meeting with the Management team of First Bite Foods Nigeria and Tantalizer Nigeria Plc.
He said, “It is high time for Universities in the country to stop depending on Government for funding. It is high time for us to commercialize some of our activities and generate good money”.
“We are too detached from industries, I believe our current move to reach out to industries will change this mentality”, he added.
Professor Oyewole disclosed that the business meeting with First Bite Foods and Tantalizers was the outcome of his meeting with the renowned philanthropist and Management icon, Chief Olusegun Oshunkeye who stressed the need for FUNAAB’s land mass of over 10,000 hectares to be optimally utilized.
“We are looking forward to private entrepreneurs to develop our commercial activities. We have a 24 en-suite Guest House waiting for your partnership. It will also be a pleasure to have Tantalizer on campus”, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor seized the opportunity to inform the visitors of the benefits of partnering with the University in the areas of livestock and fisheries production, among others.
Responding, the leader of the delegation, Chief Folu Ayeni commended the Vice-Chancellor for his foresight and innovation as a resourceful leader.
“Sir, I am moved by your submission. I’m happy that we have academics like you who see the need for the nation to build rounded students and business-oriented institutions. If we have somebody like you as the head of an institution like this, the sky is the limit. Let us see in our own way how we can make impact”, he added.
Speaking further, Chief Ayeni declared, “I will be happy to partner with the University in Agric. We have a 16-hectare farm in Ikorodu, where 10,000 broilers are processed every week and we are going to 20,000 in the next four weeks. As for the Tantalizer aspect, that gladdens my heart. We will look into that”.
The Vice-Chancellor led his visitors on tour of business facilities on campus, including the Industrial Park, the Dam, Livestock processing Centre as well as the International Scholars’ and Resource Centre.