BREAKING: 32nd Convocation: FUNAAB graduates 120 first class students, adds new academic programmes

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has celebrated the graduation of 120 students with First Class Honours at its 32nd Convocation Ceremony.

During a press conference on Wednesday to mark the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Kehinde, announced that a total of 3,567 students had been awarded Bachelor’s Degrees across various disciplines. Of this number, 1,626 graduates achieved the Second Class Upper Division, 1,624 graduated in the Second Class Lower Division, and 164 earned degrees in the Third Class category.

Prof. Kehinde emphasised the university’s commitment to its core mandates of teaching, research, and community engagement. He highlighted the strides made by the institution’s academic staff in training both Nigerian and international students, with a focus on producing graduates who are well-equipped to contribute meaningfully to national development.

“As a university, we are committed to turning out graduates who will contribute towards the development of Nigeria,” he stated.

The Vice-Chancellor also announced the introduction of seven new academic programmes in the past year, bringing the university’s offerings from three programmes to a total of ten.

These include the Department of Library and Information Science, the Department of Computer Science (with specialisations in Cyber Security, Data Science, Software Engineering, and Information Systems), the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and the Department of Information Technology. Additionally, FUNAAB now hosts an Institute of Communication and General Studies.

With 38 fully accredited programmes and 54 departments, the university continues to strengthen its position as a leader in Nigeria’s higher education sector. Prof. Kehinde noted that FUNAAB’s 10,200-hectare land is being leveraged for collaborations with both public and private organisations to tackle food scarcity in Abeokuta and beyond.

He also highlighted the university’s global recognition as the best University of Agriculture in Africa and its active involvement in research initiatives. In the past year, FUNAAB has secured significant grants, including six proposals approved by the National Research Institute, and is a key beneficiary of TETFund-sponsored programmes, which have bolstered its research capabilities.

Further underscoring the university’s commitment to academic excellence, Prof. Kehinde revealed that some FUNAAB students had won international research grants over the past year. Additionally, in 2024, the university received N133.9 million from the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to support 1,300 students.

The Vice-Chancellor also acknowledged the generous contribution of N8 million from the university’s alumni association, which has been used to assist less privileged students with their tuition fees, reinforcing FUNAAB’s commitment to inclusivity.