By Ayo Arowojolu
The newly established Federal University of Agriculture and Development Stuudies, Iragbiji(FUADSI), Osun State, has taken off in grand style as the Prof. Mufutau Atayese-led Management Team is envisioning to build a world-class institution with global best practices in research and innovation.
The University’s pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mufutau Atayese was upbeat on this assertion on Friday while paying maiden homage upon assumption of office by his team to the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Odundun IV.
Speaking at the Palace of the host-Monarch, Prof. Atayese, who prior to his appointment, was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) said his team, inclusive of the University’s Registrar, Afolabi Muritala, the Bursar, Adeagbo Akeem, and the Librarian, Prof. Wasiu Lawal, has dedicated next five years of their active service to building a development-driven University which everyone would be proud of.
Prof. Atayese said: “I want to express my gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Honourable Ministers Adegboyega Oyetola of Marine and Blue Economy, and Dr. Tunji Alausa of the Ministry of Education, over my appointment as pioneer Vice Chancellor of this University.
“May I also express my happiness over the enthusiasm with which Kabiyesi, His Royal Majesty, the Aragbiji and his retinue received me and other Principal Officers.
“I had an opportunity to work briefly with Kabiyesi, and I have known him to by a highly cerebral King. So, we cannot afford to fail. In fact, I don’t understand failure, and I don’t know its meaning”.
Addressing the press at the Institution’s permanent site, after his team’s brief meeting with the Iragbiji monarch, he reiterated his avowed commitment to leading a novel, specialized University.
Describing FUNAAB as 7th best-rated Agriculture University in the world and 1st in Africa, the pioneer VC promised that his new University, FUADSI’s milestone would take-off from where FUNAAB’s academic clout ends.
Receiving the team earlier at his Palace, Oba Olabomi, said the spate of development in Iragbiji was a reflection of an age-long community’s resilience and perseverance.
He assured the Management team that there would be a reciprocal cooperation and collective commitment by his community to developing the new School.
Aragbiji said: “I want to welcome the University Vice Chancellor, the Registrar, the Bursar and the University’s Librarian for officially stepping the soil of Iragbiji, the host of the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies.
“I thank you so much, and I wish you very fruitful, successful, impactful and sterling performance as the University pioneer management.
“We look forward to you creating a niche for the University. We look forward to a situation whereby the University within the first 24 months of its establishment would have scaled through a lot of hurdles, and started institutionalizing a University of the 21th Century.
“A University that is locally sited in Iragbiji, but with international and world-class vision, mission and accomplishments that would attract international students and scholars. It’s our belief that FUADSI has come to be a major player in the world so much so that within a couple of years, we want to see the University scaling up to be one of the best that we have, not only in Nigeria, not only in Africa, but also in the world, and the journey to get to that height starts now.”
“We want you to make the impossible possible. We don’t want you to just come here and administer a University, rather we want you to come here and institutionalize legacies, and turn around the forest to a bountiful harvest for the State, the country and the whole world.”
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