Few years ago, the federal government ordered the scrapping of management science courses in specialised universities across the country with a charge that they should focus on their core mandates. Since this announcement was made, a lot of changes have taken place in the affected institutions but without having its toll on the students and lecturers. The argument of those against this decision is that agriculture and management courses are interrelated, thereby propelling the stakeholders to continue to agitate for a reversal of the government’s directive.
In this regard, members of the newly-formed Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities of Agriculture in Nigeria (CPFUAN) have agreed to work harmoniously for the benefit of the country in transforming agriculture from theoretical, into the practice level, with a call for the restoration of management sciences to universities of agriculture in the country. Members of the committee were drawn from the topmost levels at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State; Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), Benue state; and the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia state.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of FUNAAB, Dr. Aboki Zhawa, stated that universities of agriculture in Nigeria should be at the forefront in formulating policies for the advancement of agricultural development in Nigeria. The Pro-Chancellor, who is also the Chairman of the Committee, stated that the universities could exert such influence through their impacts and output of researches conducted. On behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Morenike Dipeolu, disclosed that agricultural programmes cannot exist in isolation of other disciplines, noting that every human development programme is required in an agrarian community. He submitted with other sister universities that the restoration of management courses was a task that must be accomplished.
The meeting constituted a nine-member Technical Committee with Prof. Kolawole Salako, as its Chairman while other members include the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Registrar, and Director of Academic Planning from each of the three universities. The Technical Committee has as its terms of reference, the creation of a policy paper for consideration at CPFUAN’s next meeting. The meeting had in attendance the Pro-Chancellor, FUAM, Prof. Alkasum Abba; Pro-Chancellor, MOUAU, Rt. Hon. Lawal Zayyana; Vice-Chancellor, FUAM, Prof. Richard Kimbir; Vice-Chancellor, MOUAU, Prof. Francis Otunta; DVC (Academic), FUAM, Prof. Nicodemus Agbulu; and the DVC (Academic), MOUAU, Prof. Madu Iwe. Others are the Registrar, FUNAAB, Dr. ‘Bola Adekola; Registrar, FUAM, Mrs. Helen Nyitse; Registrar, MOUAU, Mrs. Jacinta Ogwo-Agu; FUNAAB’s Dean, College of Management Sciences (COLMAS), Prof. Akeem Salami; Dean, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM), Prof. Olusiji Sowande; Dean, College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT), Prof. Mufutau Atayese; among others.
In a related development, the importance of management sciences to the advancement of agriculture has been stressed. This revelation was made by FUNAAB’s Coordinator, College of Management Sciences (COLMAS), Dr. Oluwatoyin Oyetayo while delivering her lecture titled, “Management: A Necessity for Development of Agriculture” during this year’s Southwest Management Students Conference (S-MSC). Describing the interrelationship of management sciences and agriculture, Dr. Oyetayo stated that farmers, who wish to succeed in agriculture cannot neglect any aspect of management sciences. Further stressing the necessity of management sciences, Dr. Oyetayo noted that after farmers had produced their outputs, it was left for management experts to look for markets and get across to consumers.
The President, College of Management Sciences Students Association (COLMASA), Mr. Taiwo Hassan, enjoined the federal government to reinstate COLMAS courses to the university for the training of young farmers to have full knowledge of how to market their farm produce. Awards were presented to participants from the various universities that graced the debate as well as those that took part in public speaking competition. Several months back, a cross section of students has appealed to the federal government to allow management courses to continue to run in the institution. The students urged the government to follow the example of past governments by diversifying the academic programmes in line with current reality and global best practices. The students also called on the government to improve access to education, with a view to making it affordable for millions of youths seeking admission to tertiary institutions.
“This implied the institutions would no longer be allowed to run other allied professional courses, aside from courses in the areas of their core mandate. This took an immediate effect from 2016 and prospective candidates seeking admission to study those courses at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta have since then been denied the opportunity. The federal government should note that thousands of students and graduates, who would have not been able to fulfill their academic ambitions”, they argued. With the various points raised above, the position of the pro-chancellors could be revisited in the interest of students, lecturers, and diversification of the economy in line with the policy thrust of the federal government. When would this reversal be done? No one really knows but it could be a surprise package for those yearning for the change. Let’s see what happens next.
