FUNAAB Urges Fresh Students to Build Skills, Set Goals Beyond the Certificate

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has challenged newly admitted students of the 2026/2027 Academic Session to approach their university education with clear goals and a commitment to developing the knowledge, skills, character, creativity and confidence required to solve problems and contribute meaningfully to society.

The message was delivered during the University’s Career and Sensitisation Day for newly admitted students, where students were encouraged to see their university years as a period for deliberate personal, academic and professional development rather than simply a pathway to obtaining a certificate.

Delivering the lead presentation, titled “Goal Setting and Vision: Charting Your Path Through the University and Beyond,” Professor of Veterinary Anatomy and Member of FUNAAB’s Employability and Benchmarking Committee, Prof. Ayokunle Olude, urged the fresh students to approach their university years with purpose.

Speaking at the Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun Ceremonial Building, Prof. Olude encouraged the students to dream boldly, identify the people they want to become and convert their aspirations into measurable goals.

“Your years here will count quickly; make them count,” he told the students.

He explained that the value of a university education extends beyond the certificate awarded at graduation, as graduates are increasingly expected to create value in the workplace, advance knowledge, innovate, solve societal problems and compete in an interconnected global economy.

The message is particularly relevant to FUNAAB, an institution established with a specialised mandate in agriculture and allied disciplines but which has developed into a broad-based academic and research environment covering Agriculture, Engineering, Veterinary Medicine, Natural and Applied Sciences, Management, Environmental Sciences and other complementary fields.

FUNAAB operates at the intersection of knowledge, agriculture, science, technology, food security, environmental sustainability and human development. Its students are exposed not only to classroom instruction but also to practical activities, research, entrepreneurship, innovation, professional development, industry engagement and community involvement.

The University’s environment therefore provides fresh students with opportunities to develop skills and experience beyond their academic credentials.

Prof. Olude challenged the students to consider three fundamental questions: Who do I want to become in five or ten years? What problem do I want to help solve in my community or Nigeria? And what would make me proud when I graduate beyond the certificate?

He explained that the questions reflect the broader purpose of higher education in the 21st Century, which includes developing critical thinkers, skilled professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, innovators and responsible citizens.

He noted that the transformation takes place within a University environment that combines teaching with research and community engagement.

According to him, FUNAAB’s laboratories, farms, field facilities, academic programmes, professional partnerships, entrepreneurship initiatives, innovation platforms and research activities provide students with opportunities to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world challenges.

He also highlighted the changing nature of agriculture, noting that the sector now extends beyond traditional farming to areas such as food systems, climate change, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, agricultural engineering, animal health, environmental sustainability, agribusiness, food safety, digital agriculture and value-chain development.

FUNAAB graduates, he said, can therefore develop careers at the intersection of agriculture, science, technology and enterprise.

However, Prof. Olude cautioned that these opportunities would not automatically translate into success without personal discipline and commitment.

“Nobody will chase you. Your discipline is your advantage,” he said, urging the students to take responsibility for their academic and professional development.

He introduced the students to the SMART approach to goal-setting, which requires objectives to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.

He demonstrated how broad ambitions could be converted into practical targets, using a student aspiring to achieve a CGPA of at least 4.50 as an example. Such an ambition, he explained, would require consistent study, class attendance, engagement, revision and regular monitoring of academic performance.

Prof. Olude placed particular emphasis on the importance of developing productive habits.

“Daily habits are where vision becomes reality,” he said, explaining that consistent academic effort is more sustainable than attempting to make up for months of inactivity during examination periods.

He encouraged students to develop competencies beyond their academic disciplines, including computer literacy, public speaking, writing and digital communication.

He also urged them to pay attention to financial management, health and wellbeing, character, leadership, relationships, career development and skills acquisition.

These competencies are increasingly relevant in a labour market where employers and organisations require graduates who can communicate effectively, adapt to changing technologies, collaborate across disciplines and apply knowledge to practical challenges.

The University’s emphasis on employability and benchmarking therefore adds another dimension to the student experience, with students encouraged to understand the relationship between what they learn in the classroom and the demands of the world outside the University.

For a University with a strong agricultural identity, this relationship is particularly significant.

Africa continues to face challenges involving food production, nutrition, climate resilience, environmental management, rural development, animal health, water, energy and sustainable livelihoods. Addressing these challenges requires professionals who can combine scientific knowledge with innovation, enterprise and public impact.

FUNAAB students are entering the agricultural sector at a time when food production is becoming increasingly knowledge-intensive and technology-driven.

The future of food production will require Scientists, Veterinarians, Engineers, Technologists, Economists, Environmental Specialists, Communicators, Entrepreneurs and Policymakers to work across disciplinary boundaries.

Prof. Olude therefore encouraged the fresh students to intentionally build their FUNAAB experience rather than passively go through it.

He advised them to divide their aspirations into long-term, medium-term and short-term goals, stressing that graduation, academic excellence and career development are achieved through smaller targets pursued consistently.

He also urged them to prepare for setbacks, including financial pressures, academic difficulties, distractions and periods of reduced motivation.

He advised the students to remain “flexible in method, firm in purpose,” while seeking mentors, accountability partners and guidance from lecturers and regularly reviewing their progress.

The introduction of the vision-board concept further encouraged the students to visualise their desired futures and connect their aspirations with concrete actions.

For students beginning a four-, five- or six-year academic journey, the exercise emphasised that the graduate they eventually become will be shaped largely by the decisions and habits developed throughout their time at the University.

Also speaking at the programme, Founder of African Young Brains, Dr. Femi Awoyomi, urged the students to remain committed to their studies and continue moving forward despite challenges.

He encouraged them to embrace perseverance, consistency and determination while maximising the opportunities available to them.

The Career and Sensitisation Day provided the newly admitted students with an early introduction to the broader purpose of university education, combining academic knowledge with skills development, discipline, innovation, entrepreneurship, research, leadership and service.

For FUNAAB, whose institutional identity is closely connected with the future of agriculture and sustainable development, the programme also highlighted the role of the University in preparing young people to contribute to addressing some of Africa’s pressing challenges.

Its graduates can pursue opportunities across laboratories and farms, hospitals and industries, classrooms and research centres, technology companies and entrepreneurial ventures, government institutions and international organisations.

The sensitisation programme therefore emphasised that the ultimate value of higher education extends beyond the certificate to include the capabilities, character and impact developed during the academic journey.

As the new generation begins its studies at FUNAAB, the students were challenged to dream boldly, plan carefully, act consistently, review their progress and graduate prepared not only to seek opportunities but also to create value wherever their skills are needed.