The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, has received the green light from the National Universities Commission to resume its management science degree programmes, marking a major step forward in the institution’s academic development.
This approval comes after a successful resource assessment visit by the NUC to evaluate the proposed courses.
A statement issued by Mr. Olasunkanmi Olajide, Acting Head of the Public Relations Department at FUNAAB, confirmed that the approval was communicated in a letter dated October 17, signed by Abubakar M. Girei, Acting Director of Academic Planning at the NUC, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Professor Abdullahi Ribadu.
Olajide noted, “The approved programmes include B.Sc. Accounting, B.Sc. Banking and Finance, B.Sc. Business Administration, and B.Sc. Economics. Also approved is a new postgraduate course, M.Sc. Agroecology.”
These courses were previously suspended following a directive in 2018 by the former Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who instructed specialised universities to concentrate solely on their core mandates. FUNAAB, like other agricultural universities, had to discontinue its management programmes, which were initially introduced in 2017.
However, the institution’s management has consistently advocated for the reinstatement of these programmes.
“This is a significant milestone for FUNAAB,” Olajide added. “The return of these programmes aligns with the university’s broader vision of combining agriculture with entrepreneurship and development-focused education.”
In line with this vision, the university in 2021 renamed its College of Management Sciences to the College of Entrepreneurial and Development Studies, which will now oversee the reintroduced programmes. Admissions into the approved courses will begin with the 2025/2026 academic session.
The move has been well-received by students and stakeholders. Comrade Michael Oloyede, President of the university’s Students’ Union Government, welcomed the NUC’s decision, describing it as “long overdue.”
“Restoring these courses is not only timely but necessary,” Oloyede said at a past press briefing. “Management sciences give agricultural students a competitive edge by incorporating business and economic principles into their training. This is a global best practice and enhances the relevance of our graduates.”
According to Olajide, the departments under COLENDS—Accounting, Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Economics, and Entrepreneurial Studies—have all secured full NUC accreditation, ensuring that the programmes meet national academic standards.
