The Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta (FUMMSA), will admit its first set of students in September 2025, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Fatiu Abiola Arogundade, has said.
Speaking while receiving a delegation of the Egba Economic Summit Group (EES) at the university’s temporary facility donated by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), the Vice Chancellor said the planned take-off had been made possible through the support of various stakeholders.
He stated that, “the plan to admit students in September 2025 has been made possible by FUNAAB through the space and Wole Soyinka library donated, while FMC is standing as a teaching hospital for practicals.”
The delegation of the Egba Economic Summit was led by its President, Mr. Yinka Chris Coker, who assured that “Egbaland will give the needed support to help the university to take off smoothly.”
In his remarks, the Vice President of the summit and member of the university’s planning committee, Dr. Gbenga Adeoye, recalled the role Egbaland played in ensuring the university became a reality, including his own presentation at the Senate Public Hearing in Abuja, backed by the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.
He described the delegation as “great achievers from Egbaland” and introduced key members. These included the current President, Mr. Chris Coker, “who worked and retired from Mobil before coming home to set up a farm in Egbaland.”
He also introduced Chief Shina Luwoye, former President of the Egba Economic Summit, who he said “worked for years in Shell before retiring and subsequently established Ecogas and was also a former President of PENGASSAN.” He added, “If the University requires trade union skills to resolve any matter, EES has that in Chief Luwoye who is also known as Mayegun.”
Introducing Engr. Ola Sobande, he said, “He is a great alumnus of King's College, Lagos, who studied Mechanical Engineering at Swansea University in the United Kingdom under Shell Scholarship before joining Shell where he worked for years before retiring. He was at a time the MD of Shell in Brunel as a young engineer. Engr. Ola Sobande played a vital role as a major brain behind the formation of Egba Economic Summit Group along with Dr. Kehinde Sogunle. Hence, at over 70, he was always willing and ready to be part of anything that brings development to Egbaland, Ogun State and Nigeria.”
He mentioned other prominent past presidents of the summit to include: Mr. Ade Coker in Houston Texas, Mr. Ayo Biobaku of QMB, Chief Tunji Sunmonu of Houston Texas, Engr. Tokunbo Odebunmi, Mr. Kehinde Sogunle, Chief Shina Luwoye, and Mr. Yinka Chris Coker.
He further stated, “Passionate people like Captain Temilola Okesanjo who is a member of EES will also support the ICT needs of the university.”
He added that “Barr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, who is the current chairman of the board, will also support the university as a former SSG of Ogun State and a successful lawyer who is a guru in real estate and hospitality now, and he is the Agba Akin of Egbaland.”
Other supporters named by him included Alhaji Saheed Egbeyemi, Chief Francis Meshioye, Bunmi Lawson, Lateef Surakatu, Bashorun Ladi Adegbite, and others.
“Chief Yinka Kufile is also willing and ready to support the university if properly consulted,” he said, adding that efforts were ongoing to mobilise diaspora support through Egba Associations in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom, “both in donation and through private partnership arrangement.”
He assured the university that “Engr. Sobande will use his international connections and experience at Nigeria Economic Summit Group where he was a representative of the Oil sector from Shell before birthing the idea of Egba Economic Summit to guide and help the University.”
Adeoye also introduced Prince Abiodun Karunwi, stating that “although Karunwi is a builder whose skill can help the university, he also retired from Total.”
He introduced the Administrative Secretary of the summit, Mrs. Ololade Oseni, as “a committed and dedicated person at EES secretariat and that FUMMSA can reach out to EES members through her at any time.”
He advised the university to “do everything closer to the Federal Medical Centre for security reasons since the state government is willing to release the model school at Idi Aba even if it will cost higher to fix same.”
He expressed appreciation to Prof. Kehinde, the Vice Chancellor of FUNAAB, “for the space provided for the smooth take-off of the university,” and also thanked Prof. Femi Balogun “who did everything possible to make the university a reality along with Prof. Musa Olomu, the former CMD of FMC.”
He concluded that “Egba sons and daughters are willing to support the university.”
Chief Shina Luwoye, in his remarks, advised “that the first Model School offered on lease by the state government should be reconsidered as it is closer to FMC, it is inside the city and on the same route with the permanent site of the university which is around Ajibayo and Jaguna Village along OGTV Ajebo road.”
Engr. Sobande added that there is need “to always collaborate with the community for ease of solving their problems especially those problems associated with anything new.”
Prince Abiodun Karunwi, in his speech, noted that “the role of Sen. Ibikunle Amosun in ensuring that the 170 hectares land for the university has a C of O is a good take-off point.”
Dr. Adeoye also used the occasion to thank Senator Lanre Tejuoso “who sponsored the bill for the establishment of the university,” and Senator Ibikunle Amosun “who ensured it was passed to law using his personal resources and connections.”
He also appreciated former President Muhammadu Buhari “for signing the bill into law,” and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “for appointing the principal officers and council members.”
Special appreciation was extended “to the Minister of Education and Minister of Health for their roles,” and to “the Governor of Ogun State for donating the Model School at Onijanganjangan as a take-off site,” while also pleading “that the Model School at Idi Aba after FMC should be added.”
Reacting to the assurances from EES, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Usman Shanawa, said, “I have learnt a lot about Egbaland and I will go and tell my people at Zamfara to come and learn what Egba Economic Summit is doing,” stating that “Egbaland is worthy of emulation by other parts of the country.”
He directed the Vice Chancellor to “collaborate with Egba Economic Summit Group and Abeokuta Club, among other stakeholders that are willing to support the university.”
He also promised that “the host community, which is Egbaland and Ogun State, will not be neglected in appointment and other considerations.”
In his vote of thanks to the delegation, the Registrar of FUMMSA, Dr. Gregory Olukayode Obayomi, promised that “the university will continue to collaborate with Egba Economic Summit Group and Egbaland as the host community.”
Other principal officers who received the delegation included the Bursar, Mrs. Adedokun Omolola Olufunso, and the University Librarian, Dr. Idiat Odunola Agboola.
Other Governing Council members present were Kabiru Yahaya, Chinenye Moses, Uyiosasere Ekhosuehi, and Joshua Adewale.
EES and FUMMSA agreed that the engagement will be regular going forward.
No comments:
Post a Comment