Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has assured National University Commission that Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies is ready for admission this month.
The minister spoke when he received an NUC team on Resource Verification in his Iragbiji, Osun State home, on a mission to ascertain preparedness of the school for takeoff.
Oyetola told the delegation, led by NUC’s Academic Planning Deputy Director, Dr. Victoria Pillah, to consider inadequacies seen as temporary, urging the team to resource-verify the university to beat end-of-October admission deadline.
He said: “We are grateful to Federal Government for considering the community worthy of not just an institution, but a university that’s specialised.
“We are working to develop the permanent site. We tried to ensure that the takeoff is in the facilities we have, as we have made it up to a reasonable level.
“I can assure you that given the speed at which we are yearning to develop the permanent site, in two to three years, we would do better than you could expect.
“I have friends and associates willing to support the university once we decide to move to permanent site. So, whatever inadequacies you may observe, it’s temporary.
“I can assure you in your next visit to the permanent site, you would see progress in the permanent site.
“We don’t want to miss this year’s matriculation. You know the university in Iyin-Ekiti and this were born on the same day. So, we don’t want to be left behind. We appreciate the efforts you can put in place to ensure the university is resource-verified.”
The Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Rasheed Odundun IV, who earlier received the team in his palace, lauded Federal Government, Oyetola, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, and other prominent influencers over their high stakes in the establishment of the University.
The monarch also thanked the Minister’s wife, Mrs. Kafayat Olaitan Oyetola for her love for the community as demonstrated by her goodwill and support, especially since the establishment of the new University.
Appreciating the monarch , the Minister and the host community, the Team Lead, Dr. Pillah said the delegation was impressed by the hospitality of the community, as well as the development and resources the new University has been able to acquire within a short period of time, promising that the NUC would objectively resource-verify the University for possible immediate takeoff.
Similarly, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Mufutau Atayese, on behalf of the management, inclusive of the Registrar, Mr. Muritala Afolabi, the Bursar, Mr. Akeem Adeagbo and the Varsity Librarian, Prof. Lawal Wasiu, also thanked the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other stakeholders, especially Oyetola, and the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as well as Oba Olabomi.
Forming the composition of the team for the Resource Verification were eight Professors drawn from different Universities, and nine experienced resource-examiners from the NUC.
On the courtesy call to the Minister were the Founder of Pathfinder College of Heath Technology, Iragbiji, and Chairman of the University Implementation Committee, Mr. Bisi Olaboopo, members of his committee, the community Spokesperson, Dr. Jimoh Olorede, and the Chief of Staff to Aragbiji, Alhaji Olayide Oladiti, among others in attendance.
