FUNAAB VC Charges Newly Inducted Engineers to Drive Nigeria’s Development

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Babatunde Kehinde, has urged newly inducted engineers of the institution to apply innovation, professional competence and ethical responsibility in addressing Nigeria’s development challenges.

Kehinde gave the charge at the 12th Induction Ceremony of the university’s College of Engineering (COLENG), held on October 7, 2026, at the Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun Ceremonial Building. The ceremony saw graduating engineering students of the 2025/2026 academic session inducted as Graduate Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Olusegun Idowu, the Vice-Chancellor described the induction as a transition into a profession with significant responsibilities for national development. He emphasised that graduation marked the beginning of lifelong professional learning, innovation and service rather than the end of academic development.

He noted that engineering plays a critical role in transportation, construction, energy, water supply, manufacturing, agriculture and digital infrastructure. According to him, Nigeria needs engineers who can translate technical knowledge into practical solutions to challenges such as food insecurity, agricultural development, environmental sustainability, climate change and rural development.

Kehinde urged the inductees to contribute to national transformation by designing and maintaining infrastructure, developing appropriate technologies, improving agricultural productivity, supporting industrialisation and creating affordable and sustainable solutions suited to Nigeria's environment.

He challenged the new engineers to continually ask themselves what problems they could solve, what value they could create, how their knowledge could improve people's lives and how they could contribute to Nigeria's development.

The Vice-Chancellor also stressed the importance of integrity, competence, professionalism and accountability, warning the graduates against compromising quality, safety and professional standards for personal gain.

Meanwhile, the Dean of the College of Engineering, Professor Adedayo Badejo, described the ceremony as a significant milestone marking the completion of years of rigorous academic training, discipline and determination.

Badejo congratulated the inductees and encouraged them to apply their expertise to emerging challenges, particularly climate change and digital transformation, while upholding the standards and values associated with their alma mater.

The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engineer Ali Rabiu, represented by the Chairman of the NSE Abeokuta Branch, Engineer (Dr.) Adekunle Musa, also congratulated the university, inductees, staff, parents and guardians.

He emphasised the importance of continuous learning in a rapidly evolving technological environment, urging the new engineers to remain adaptable and develop skills in emerging fields, including artificial intelligence, automation, renewable energy, digital technology and advanced manufacturing.

Delivering the keynote lecture, the South-West Regional Manager of the Bank of Industry (BOI), Engineer Michael Oye, represented by the bank's State Manager, Engineer Michael Ajidani, challenged the graduates to bridge the gap between Nigeria's abundant natural resources and their productive utilisation.

He called for greater innovation, appropriate technology and collaboration, urging engineers to transform natural resources into useful products, waste into wealth, data into actionable insights and agricultural produce into value-added products.

The Chairman of Platform Capital, Lagos, Engineer (Dr.) Akintoye Akindele, also encouraged the graduates to cultivate curiosity, learn from mistakes, embrace multidisciplinary thinking, adopt a long-term perspective and remain persistent in developing solutions.

Akindele stressed that engineers must continually question conventional practices and seek better, safer and more efficient alternatives.

As part of his support for outstanding young engineering talents, he awarded N1.5 million each to the best male and female graduating engineering students. The recipients were Mr. Yahyah Mubarak of Agricultural and Bio-Resources Engineering and Miss Kelechi Chibundu of Mechatronics Engineering.

He also offered both graduates employment opportunities at Nexus Energy Limited and pledged to extend Dubai invitations to some outstanding students in December, including opportunities to explore solar-energy initiatives at FUNAAB. Additionally, he pledged 10 internship scholarships for deserving engineering students.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of awards and prizes to outstanding graduating students across the various departments of the College of Engineering. The inductees also took the oath of membership, marking their transition from academic training to professional engineering practice.

The event underscored FUNAAB's commitment to producing engineers equipped to contribute to Nigeria's technological advancement and economic development.