25th convention of FUNAAB Alumni Association, springboard to Agritech revolution

……grants scholarship to about 150 students

As the Alumni Association of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB Alumni) holds its 25th Convention and 24th Annual Lecture Series starting from Thursday, April 27, 2023, there are strong indications that the benefits of the convention will change the narratives of the country and usher in a new Nigeria in the area of food production, preservation, value addition and employment generation.

The 3- day life – changing hybrid event has been carefully planned to expand the frontiers of knowledge of members and Nigerians in general and open a vista of opportunities in the area of Agric- business leveraging on technology. Members of the great Association will also be” fired” to brace up taking maximum advantage of opportunities in relationships, ValidViewNetwork reports.

Moruff Olalekan, the Chairman of the National Convention Organizing Committee (NCOC), confirmed in a statement that the Alumni Association is committed to solving the challenges of food scarcity , wastage in the agricultural sector and unemployment through provision of knowledge that can drive the agric business towards maximising the agricultural potentials of the nation.

In his words,: The 25th Annual Convention of the Alumni promises to be great. I enjoin every member to find time to attend the programmes. The Agricultural revolution which Nigeria is yearning for will begin with us.”

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“In line with the anthem of the University” we have the needed potentials and basic essentials” and we are ready to activate all “as offering to mankind”

According to Olalekan, the theme of this year’s convention is “Leading Agritech revolution: The role of big data, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology in Agric-conomy.’’ The Alumni association in line with the mandate of the University is determined to be the driver to the solution to myriad of challenges facing the agricultural sector of the economy, he posited.

“It is a 3 day event which commences on Thursday 27th April , 2023 with a virtual lecture titled “ Unlocking the potentials and opportunities in Alumni Association. The keynote speaker is Dr. Jay Le roux Dillion who is the Chief Alumni Officer and Strategist at University of California , Berkeley, USA and Hon. Solomon Onilede, the Global President of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Alumni Association.’’

While encouraging members all over the world to ensure that they link up with the virtual program towards learning skills, strategies and appreciating both tangible and intangible opportunities embedded in active participation in the Alumni, Olalekan posited that members perspective cannot remain the same after the interaction.

“The resource persons have been carefully selected. They are men who have transformed the theories to practicals and are willing to release the keys to members of the FUNAAB Alumni towards making our individual lives better and the Alumni Association greater’’.

To join the Thursday meeting by 7pm , members have been enjoined to click

https://meet.google.com/hst-axsk-vkp?hs=224

ValidViewNetwork reports that the Federal University of Agriculture also known as the most fabulous campus in the universe has produced many great men who are doing well in various human endeavours contributing to the development of the country and the world at large. The University has also won several laurels at both national and international levels with members of the Alumni contributing significantly.

The traditional visit of the Alumni Association to the Management of the University holds the second day, Friday, April 28 followed by a cocktail party while the Delegates’ meeting holds thereafter.

This is the first Alumni convention to be hosted by the 7th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde who assumed the mantle of leadership of the University on April 3. 2023, ValidViewNetwork reports.

“The grand finale of the 3-day event is the convention lecture which holds within the University on Saturday. The lecture shall be delivered by a globally renowned expert and Alumnus of the University, Mr Oluseun Onigbinde, the Global Director and co- Founder of Budgit, a civic organization that analyze government budget and performance using big data and other modern technologies. The lecture will be co-delivered by Mr Femi Adekoya, Founder, Integrated Aerial Precision and Precision Field Academy. He is also widely known as Flying Farmer.

The wealth of experience of these great speakers will surely expand frontiers of knowledge and propel us to solve the problems of the nation in the area of food security, Olalekan added.

The Pioneer National President of the Association, Prof Kola Adebayo who is the current Director, Academic Planning of the University, expressed joy that the Alumni Association has come this far and was optimistic that the 25th convention will yield the desired results towards championing agricultural revolution in Nigeria.

On his feeling and expectations, Adebayo, an erudite Professor also widely known as Amsterdam stated : ” The first feeling is that of gratitude to be able to witness this milestone. Beyond gratitude, is hope. How the Association will now be positioned to channel the course of future development of our alma mater.”

The President of the Alumni Association, Dr Olusegun Ogundiran confirmed that the convention is going to be a unique one that would leave behind ideas and ideologies that will foster the agricultural development that Nigeria needs at this point in her history. He equally emphasised that benefits of the robust discussions would generate more interest in the Alumni.

“This year’s convention, the 25th of its kind is unique. It is an opportunity and privilege to reunite with our loved ones. Our association has gone global and this accounts for the reason we are having hybrid convention. To mark this glorious occasion, about 150 students in various categories shall be awarded scholarship among others. I am sure we are going to have a great as we get fired for greatness individually, as an association and as a nation.”