The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta(FUNAAB) has all its facilities fully ready for students resumption, contrary to claims by the leadership of the local branch of the Academic Staff of Nigerian Universities(ASUU).
This was the assurance given by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Felix Kolawole Salako, on Monday while addressing newsmen who were taken round on a guided tour of facilities on campus.
The Senate of the University had last Thursday approved an extensive academic calendar that fixed January 11 as resumption for virtual learning and orientation for both returning and new students ahead of physical resumption on campus billed for January 18.
But, ASUU Branch Chairman, Dr O.O. Oni, himself a member of the Senate, had discredited the resumption process, saying the institution lacked capacity to undertake virtual learning and teaching.
However the Vice-Chancellor on Monday took the pain to conduct journalists on a three-hour tour of interactive facilities and internet-based devices localised in about 20 different halls, lecture rooms and auditoria on campus, all indicating readiness for students use.
Prof Salako described the rantings by the ASUU leader as misguided and a great disservice to the image of the university, adding that the attempt aimed at de-marketing the institution will not work, and advised lecturers to factor the reality that the strike is over.
Prof Salako said: “I am not going to submit to blackmail. The University is fully ready to let our students progress in their studies. Our students are tired of staying at home. We are not going to entertain excuses.
“This University has enough internet-based facilities and physical structures to do a combination of virtual learning as well as physical teaching that would be hybrid in nature given the realities of COVID 19 and we are fully implementing all protocols spelt out by the NCDC.
“It is laughable when certain academic staff say FUNAAB cannot handle online classes whereas it is on record that the University did virtual learning for pupils of our primary school and even our secondary school while we even used our FUNAAB Radio to relay online lectures.
“I think it is about time that our academics woke up to the new reality. Even some state universities have already started online teaching. We have all it takes for our students to excel through the the various platforms that we have set up. And, I believe our lecturers are fully ready. It is only a handful of them involved in discrediting the university. As far as I am concerned, there is no course that cannot be taught online.”
Salako disclosed that his Administration is determined to facilitate a speedy academic calendar that would ensure that the backlog of outstanding two sessions would not be unduly prolonged as the 2019/2020 session which is just starting would be rounded up hopefully in September this year while the 2020/2021 session is to take off shortly afterwards.
The Vice-Chancellor used the occasion to flaunt his Administration’s spectacular performance in the area of infrastructural development, saying “one thing this administration is noted for is that we are not just building facilities but we are at the same time also equipping the buildings”
At the press conference, the President, Students Union Government of the university, Comrade Michael Oloyede who led his executives, passed a vote of confidence on the Vice-Chancellor for massively rehabilitating the campus in readiness for students.
Comrade Oloyede pledged that the students will reciprocate the good gesture of Management by conducting themselves peacefully and orderly.
In attendance at the event were the two Deputy Vice-Chancellors,, Prof Bolanle Akeredolu-Ale, and Prof Clement Adeofun, Registrar, Dr Bola Adekola, Bursar, Mr Chukwuemeka Ezekpeazu and Librarian, Dr Fehintola Onifade.
