FUNAAB VC Prof. Babatunde Kehinde Signs MoU with Alumni to Establish 800-Hectare Farm, Emphasizes Role of Private Partnerships

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Babatunde Kehinde, has emphasized that "government has no business in business" as the institution signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the FUNAAB Alumni Association to develop an 800-hectare farmland on the university campus. The initiative, signed on October 17, 2024, is aimed at boosting agricultural innovation and leveraging the university's expansive land resources.

Prof. Kehinde lauded the efforts of the Alumni Association's immediate past Global President, Dr. Segun Ogundiran, for initiating the partnership and highlighted that only 10 percent of FUNAAB's over 10,000 hectares of land is currently in use. He stressed the importance of public-private partnerships (PPP) in addressing the university's agricultural ambitions and expanding commercial farming activities.

The Vice-Chancellor, a Fellow of the Genetics Society of Nigeria (FGSN), also underscored the project's value as a training ground for both alumni and current students. He praised the Alumni Association for its continued support, particularly in funding school charges for indigent students and providing food supplies during exams.

Alumni Association President, Mr. Bolaji Gbadamosi, expressed gratitude to the university leadership and outlined plans to invest nearly ₦20 million towards student fees for the 2024/2025 academic session. He also commended the Pro-Chancellor, HRM Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi, for recognizing the association’s contributions.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by senior university officials and key members of the Alumni Association.