Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has assured the National University Commission (NUC) that the host community of the new Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies would complement effort of the Federal Government in building a world-class University in Iragbiji.
The Minister gave this assurance recently while receiving in his residence a 17-member team of the NUC on Resource Verification Exercise visit to the varsity in Iragbiji to ascertain the level of preparedness and readiness of the institution for immediate takeoff.
Addressing the team, Oyetola told the delegation led by the Academic Planning Deputy Director of the Commission, Dr. Victoria Pillah, to consider any inadequacies seen while conducting the verification exercise as temporary, urging the team to resource-verify the new University to beat end-of-October admission deadline.
He said: “We are grateful to the Federal Government for considering the community worthy of not just an institution, but a University that’s specialized in a way — agriculture and development studies, which is very wide.
“We are working assiduously to ensure that we develop the permanent site. We tried to ensure that the takeoff is within the facilities that we have, as we have made it up to a reasonable level.
“I can assure you that given the speed at which we are yearning to develop the permanent site, in a matter of two to three years, we would do better than you could ever expect.
“I have friends and associates that are willing to support the university once we decide to move to the permanent site. So, whatever inadequacies you may observe during your inspection, it’s a temporary thing.
“I can assure you like I mentioned, within your next visit to the permanent site, you would have seen some tremendous progress that would have taken place in the permanent site.
“We don’t want to miss this year’s matriculation. You know the University in Iyin-Ekiti and this one were born on the same day. They are like twins. So, we don’t want to be left behind. We appreciate all the efforts you can put in place to ensure that the University is resource-verified.”
Speaking earlier, the royal host, Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Odundun IV, who had earlier received the team in his palace before leading them and the University management to the Minister, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Oyetola, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, and other prominent influencers over their high stakes in the establishment of the University.
The monarch also thanked the Minister’s wife, Mrs. Kafayat Olaitan Oyetola for her love for the community as demonstrated by her goodwill and support, especially since the establishment of the new University.
Appreciating the Monarch, the Minister and the host community, the Team Lead, Dr. Victoria Pillah said the delegation was impressed by the hospitality of the community, as well as the development and resources the new University has been able to acquire within a short period of time, promising that the NUC would objectively resource-verify the University for possible immediate takeoff.
Similarly, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Mufutau Atayese, on behalf of the management, inclusive of the Registrar, Mr. Muritala Afolabi, the Bursar, Mr. Akeem Adeagbo and the Varsity Librarian, Prof. Lawal Wasiu, also thanked the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other stakeholders, especially Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as well as Oba Olabomi.
Forming the composition of the team for the Resource Verification Exercise were eight Professors drawn from different Universities, and nine experienced resource-examiners from the NUC.
On the courtesy call to the Minister were the Founder of Pathfinder College of Heath Technology, Iragbiji, and Chairman of the University Implementation Committee, Mr. Bisi Olaboopo, members of his committee, the community Spokesperson, Dr. Jimoh Olorede, and the Chief of Staff to Aragbiji, Alhaji Olayide Oladiti, among others in attendance.
