Key Points

• FUNAAB wins NUC approval to reintroduce management degrees.

• Courses including accounting and banking now part of the curriculum.

• Students will benefit from expanded programmes under FUNAAB’s new vision.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has officially approved the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) to bring back important management science programs. This is a big change in the school’s academic offerings.

According to a report by the Punch news, the Acting Head of Public Relations, Mr. Olasunkanmi Olajide, said in a statement that the approval letter, which was signed by Mr. Abubakar M. Girei on behalf of the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, and dated October 17, confirms that the new courses can go ahead.

The approved programs are B.Sc. in Accounting, B.Sc. in Banking and Finance, B.Sc. in Business Administration, and B.Sc. in Economics. There is also a new M.Sc. in Agroecology. These changes come after the NUC visited the university to check its readiness for the new resources.

Management programs are back after being gone for eight years

FUNAAB used to offer similar management science courses, but in the 2017/2018 school year, the federal government told agricultural universities to stop offering management-oriented programs and focus on their main duties. In 2021, the college that used to be called the College of Management Sciences (COLMAS) changed its name to the College of Entrepreneurial and Development Studies (COLENDS) to better reflect its new mission. The NUC has given its approval for undergraduate program admissions for the 2025/2026 academic year.

FUNAAB NUC approval means that the school will grow academically

This new chapter shows how serious FUNAAB is about combining business and management with agriculture and entrepreneurship. Olajide called the approval “a big step forward in the university’s ongoing dedication to academic excellence and institutional growth.” He also said that the school is now “ready to provide high-quality education in a wide range of fields while still being the leader in agricultural and development studies.” FUNAAB hopes that more students will sign up for these courses and that the programs will be more appealing.

Students and other interested parties are happy that FUNAAB got NUC approval

In recent years, student representatives and alumni had asked for management science classes to be brought back.

The Students’ Union Government asked the federal government to rethink the ban in 2021, saying that management sciences made agricultural courses more competitive and market-oriented. The NUC’s approval now backs up those calls and gives FUNAAB the chance to expand its reach. Officials think that the readiness shown during the resource-assessment visit made the commission believe that the institution could run these programs well.

The FUNAAB NUC approval is an example of how specialised schools can change to meet changing needs as Nigeria’s higher education system changes. The new courses will likely attract students who want both business and agricultural skills, which is a combination that is becoming more and more valuable in the job market. This is more than just going back to old programs for FUNAAB; it means redefining its role in national development and educational leadership.