FUNAAB Alumni Bolster Partnership with FUADSI, Fuelling New University’s Promising Start

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Alumni Association (FUNAABAAS) has demonstrated robust support for the newly established Federal University of Agriculture and Developmental Studies, Iragbiji (FUADSI), underscoring a vital collaboration that promises to propel the institution towards academic excellence and sustainable growth.

Ambassador Bolaji Azim Gbadamosi, Global President of the FUNAAB Alumni Association, recently visited FUADSI in Iragbiji, Osun State, where he was warmly welcomed by His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulrasheed Ayotunde Olabomi, Odundun IV, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, who serves as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of FUADSI’s Governing Council. During the visit, the Aragbiji personally led Ambassador Gbadamosi on an inspection tour of the university’s ongoing infrastructure projects, which included the administrative block, laboratories, and other academic facilities currently being equipped and prepared ahead of the university’s official commencement.

The Aragbiji highlighted the community’s strong commitment to FUADSI’s success, showcasing newly acquired cutting-edge equipment ready for installation. This transformation is part of a broader community-driven initiative aimed at making FUADSI a hub of educational innovation and agricultural development.

Ambassador Gbadamosi also held fruitful discussions with FUADSI management, headed by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Murphy Olaoye Atayese, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development) of FUNAAB, along with other key university officials including the University Librarian, Registrar, and Bursar. The Vice-Chancellor expressed profound appreciation for the Alumni Association’s pioneering support and emphasized the university management’s dedication to working closely with the Alumni to ensure FUADSI’s successful take-off and enduring sustainability.

Prof. Atayese acknowledged the crucial role of the FUNAAB management, which views the project as a “big brother,” offering guidance and backing to FUADSI. He shared insights on the considerable milestones achieved under his leadership, particularly in infrastructure development, academic planning, and community engagement, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to blending theoretical instruction with practical, hands-on training tailored towards addressing Nigeria’s agricultural and societal challenges.

Ambassador Gbadamosi praised the impressive progress and expressed optimism that FUADSI’s trajectory will yield remarkable achievements within a short timeframe. He spotlighted the FUNAAB Alumni Association as a “powerhouse of knowledge, expertise, and best global practices,” urging FUADSI to engage its vast pool of highly qualified alumni professionals. Such employment and collaboration, he emphasized, would enhance the university’s capacity and accelerate its emergence as a globally competitive institution.

“The Alumni Association is more than a support system; it is a fortress of expertise with global standards. With unity of purpose, FUADSI’s foundation will launch beyond the sky—they will start from the sky itself,” he declared.

This visit reinforces the strategic alliance between the FUNAAB Alumni Association, the Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council, and FUADSI’s management team. This partnership is instrumental in positioning FUADSI as a pioneering citadel of agricultural innovation and developmental studies in Nigeria.

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Recent developments indicate FUADSI is set for official commencement with five foundational faculties focused on agriculture, natural and applied sciences, renewable natural resources, animal production and management, and social management and development studies. This structure reinforces FUADSI’s mission to produce graduates equipped to tackle food security, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development through innovative education and community service.

Beyond FUADSI, the FUNAAB Alumni Association continues to play a proactive role in supporting academic institutions, having invested millions in tuition sponsorship, student welfare programs, and agricultural development projects, including a 2,000-hectare Alumni Farm Hub that showcases modern agribusiness practices .