Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Gbadebo has protested against the plan by the Federal Government to stop the College of Management Sciences (COLMAS) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Alake’s protest letter, addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was sent through a member of Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, Olusegun Williams, while the Senator representing Ogun central at the national assembly, Dr. Lanre Tejuoso was copied.
Alake recalled that the announcement that Specialized Universities should cease running Management Courses, was made through a directive by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.
The monarch lamented that the action had caused a big disquiet in Nigeria, especially in all the areas where the enormous advantages of such universities were appreciated.
His words: “As the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, I have been inundated with visitations, protests and all sorts of complaints from Stakeholders from the Academia, Business Community, Parents, Students and other concerned individuals within and outside Ogun State.
“These contacts and interactions with the concerned Stakeholders, had enabled me to even feel more worried about the situation which I believe requires a most urgent reversal.
“As you are aware, the Authorities of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, in September 2011 established the College of Management Sciences (COLMAS) in response to the directive of the then President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) to all specialized Federal Universities to diversify their academic programs to enhance access to higher education in the country with a view to accommodating the teeming prospective University candidates.
“The recent directive was issued by the Honorable Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu has apparently made a nonsense of a Federal Government popular and progressive policy”.
While cautioning the Minister for Education, Alake said “the implication of the directive by the Minister of Education, if implemented, is that FUNAAB’s Host Communities (Ogun State) will be restricted to benefit only in the area of Agriculture, thus limiting the choice the teeming students could make to only courses in the core area of Agriculture.
”To deny FUNAAB the opportunity of continuing with her Management courses is to bring a lot of sadness to the army of eligible students who on a yearly basis look forward to that University as one of their choices for achieving their long life dreams.
“In conclusion therefore, it is the considered view of the Egba people and as well as other communities in Ogun State, that the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, be allowed to retain and continue the various Management courses it is offering side by side with other courses of the specialized University.
“And this is why I am personally calling on your good self as a veritable opinion leader in our community as well as the whole country at large, to articulate the views and concern of our people that FUNNAB should be allowed to sustain and improve on management courses along side with the core Agriculture as a discipline”.
