By Lola Badejo
The Paramount Ruler of Yewaland and Olu of Ilaro, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Asade Agunloye IV; has called on the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB) to work out a youth-oriented collaboration programme between the University and Yewaland in the area of agricultural development.
The Royal Father made the call while hosting the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kolawole Salako and his management team in his palace.
Oba Olugbenle appreciated the Vice-Chancellor for coming around, saying that “Today is the appointed day for Prof. Salako and Oba Olugbenle to meet”. He tasked the University to share benefits of its research breakthroughs with the people within the catchment areas because such gesture would “Go a long way to help and (enable) us appreciate the presence of FUNAAB”.
The Olu of Ilaro frowned at what he described as leadership failure and the recent “EndSARS” protests across the country. He stressed the need for youths to be integrated back into the system, to avoid the problems happening in the country.
The monarch called for change in the orientation of youths by giving them the necessary entrepreneurial training to empower them and make the best use of their brains. He added that the establishment of such collaboration between Yewaland and FUNAAB in agriculture and environmental management would go a long way in promoting youth development in Ogun State. On the Vice-Chancellor’s third year anniversary in office, Oba Olugbenle said he was happy that the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure had been peaceful and crisis-free since inception, he thereafter prayed for the Vice-Chancellor.
The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the monarch for the warm reception. He said he agreed with Oba Olugbenle’s suggestion on the need to empower youths; an effort, which he emphasised that FUNAAB had been doing through its Community-Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS), whereby students are taken to farm settlement locations to experience farming at the village level across the four geo-political zones of the state.
Prof. Salako equally mentioned the training programme offered to FUNAAB students in the area of cinematography by the ace cinematographer, Alagba Tunde Kelani as well as other breakthroughs recorded by the University such as the production of odourless ‘fufu’, which is now being produced by many small scale outfits; FUNAAB Alpha Chicken; Cassava Agronomy projects and the various grants won by University scholars. The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that with the advent of technology and social media, it had become difficult for youths to use their bare hands in agriculture and supported the monarch’s call to promote farm settlements that are equipped with basic amenities.
Prof. Salako promised that FUNAAB would spread its scope of outreach and work better with Yewaland, noting that before now, the University had been carrying out extension services within Olorunda, Imala, Imeko and Iwoye-Ketu; all under Yewa. The Bobajiro of Ilaro, and former Dean, College of Natural Sciences (COLNAS) of FUNAAB, Prof. Tope Popoola expressed the hope that the visit would yield positive fruits for both parties, as he appreciated the Olu of Ilaro for hosting the Vice-Chancellor and his team.
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