.... pledges quality, responsible leadership and credible transition
By Adeola Oladunni
Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde on Tuesday assumed office as the Acting Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).
The Senate of the University had on September 22, 2022, duly nominated Prof. Kehinde as Acting Vice Chancellor, while the institution's Governing Council ratified his nomination on October 7,2022.
Kehinde, a Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics, assumed office as Acting Vice Chancellor following the expiration of the tenure of the sixth substantive Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako on Monday.
Until his emergence as Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kehinde was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development).
Within his short stint as Deputy Vice Chancellor(Development), Prof Kehinde is commended and revered for contributing immensely to the success of Prof.Salako's administration.
He carved a remarkable niche for rejuvenating the ailing Industrial Park Unit of the University which he transformed to a more independent, productive and resourceful FUNAAB Integrated Venture as the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of the Unit turned Venture, among other feats.
A consumate Scholar, Prof.Kehinde attended University of Ibadan where he obtained a B.Sc Degree in Agricultural Biology, Second Class Honours, Upper Division in 1987; M.Sc in 1990 and a Ph.D in 1994.
He began his academic career in University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in March, 1994 as Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology, and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2007.
Prof. Kehinde has served the University in various capacities which included Dean, College of Plant Science and Crop Production; Director, Institute for Human Resources and Development (INHURD); member, FUNAAB Governing Council; Chairman and member of notable Committees in the University.
The new Acting Vice Chancellor is a recipient of many Fellowships and Grants, both personally and for the University.
They include, Graduate Fellowship Programme at International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan; Chinese Fellowship Programme at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, many Grants for research studies and establishment of Centre of Excellence in Agriculture.
Apart from FUNAAB, the Prof. Kehinde has contributed to the development of other Universities, notably is his remarkable impact at Lagos State University, Ojoo which led to his appointment as the Acting Pioneer Dean, School of Agriculture.
He was a visiting lecturer at the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic.
At national level, the Acting Vice Chancellor served his father's land as member of the National Technical Working Group that reorganized the National Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank into the Bank of Agriculture.
He also served as member of the National Technical Working Group (Agriculture) of the Vision 20:2020.
Prof.Kehinde has published more than fifty scientific articles in national and foreign journals.
Meanwhile, Prof. Kehinde has assured members of the University community and other stakeholders that he will do his "utmost best to provide quality and responsible leadership" during his six months tenure of office.
Prof. Kehinde, who gave the assurance in his acceptance speech, after he took over from Prof. Salako, promised to build on " FUNAAB's tradition of excellence bequeathed to the institution by its founding fathers".
He said, "In doing this however, I will be requiring the cooperation and support of staff, students and other stakeholders".
The Acting Vice Chancellor noted with concern that "I'm not unaware of the enormity of the responsibilities of the Office, especially during a transition period".
He, therefore pleaded with members of the University community to "pursue the transition with all sense of responsibility to the University and stakeholders in general".
Prof. Kehinde assured that on the part of management "We shall open all channels of communication" to facilitate and ensure credible and hitch free transition, as well as enhance service delivery on the tripodal mandate of the University.
He urged members of the University community " to address any forms of grievances, using the appropriate procedures without causing embarrassment to the system".
He emphasized that "the peace, image and reputation of the University must remain paramount to us at all times", adding that "we must strive to continue to uphold these, no matter the cost".
"In the coming days and weeks, the Governing Council will unfold the timeline plan for a peaceful transition in the University aimed at raising the bar of excellence which FUNAAB is reputed for", he said.
Prof.Kehinde charged members of the academic community and stakeholders at large that "Together, we must all work with high sense and spirit of commitment to achieve the FUNAAB of our dreams"
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