Akure ULEFUNTA 2026 Committee Seeks FUTA Support for Colloquium on Food Security and Community Development

The Chairman of the steering committee of the 2026 ULEFUNTA Festival, Kabiyesi Olu Adekunle, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, led the Lecture Sub-Committee on a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adenike Oladiji, seeking institutional support for the upcoming festival colloquium.

The ULEFUNTA Festival, an annual cultural celebration of the Akure people of Ondo State, is scheduled to hold from September 22 to 27, 2026.

During the visit, Kabiyesi Olu Adekunle disclosed that a major highlight of the 2026 edition will be a colloquium to be held at the Obafemi Awolowo Auditorium, FUTA, focused on addressing food security challenges and improving livelihoods within communities.

He explained that the colloquium is designed to generate practical solutions that will strengthen intervention efforts by government agencies and development partners, particularly through improved engagement with community leaders in agriculture and related sectors. He further noted that the initiative aims to bridge gaps between community leadership structures and grassroots populations, while promoting more effective citizen-government collaboration.

Kabiyesi Adekunle added that several eminent Nigerians have been invited to serve as lead speakers and discussants during the lecture series.

In her response, Vice-Chancellor Professor Adenike Oladiji expressed appreciation for the continued support of the Akure community to FUTA, particularly in relation to the development of the institution’s Teaching Hospital project. She commended the Deji of Akure Kingdom and other community leaders for their sustained commitment to the growth of the university.

“The Deji has been a remarkable pillar of support for FUTA. Such a level of commitment from a host community is not always common, and we remain grateful for his invaluable contributions,” she said.

Professor Oladiji also acknowledged the contributions of FUTA staff of Akure origin in strengthening town-and-gown relations. She described the ULEFUNTA Lecture as a strategic initiative aligned with the university’s core mandates of teaching, research, learning, and community engagement, noting that it fosters collaboration for sustainable development.

She assured the committee of FUTA’s continued support for the successful hosting of the 2026 ULEFUNTA Lecture.

The Chairman was accompanied on the visit by:

• Professor Helen Ogunsuyi – Chairman, Lecture Sub-Committee
• Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo – Member, Lecture Sub-Committee
• Professor Vincent Ajayi – Member, Lecture Sub-Committee
• Mr. Samuel Olanitori – Member, Lecture Sub-Committee
• Mr. Ilesanmi Stephens – Vice Chairman, Sports Committee
• Mr. David Olusola – Secretary