The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, has urged academic staff of the College of Engineering (COLENG) to embrace transformational leadership to enhance teaching and learning, strengthen research and expand the University’s local and global impact.
Kehinde gave the charge in a message delivered by the Dean of COLENG, Prof. Adedayo Badejo, at the College’s Research and Leadership Seminar/Workshop Series held on October 21th, 2026, at the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Engineering Building, FUNAAB. The seminar was themed “Transformational Leadership in Academia: Moving from Manager to Visionary Leader.”
The Vice-Chancellor commended COLENG for organising the seminar and appreciated the resource person, Prof. Ololade Enikuomehin, for contributing to academic leadership development.
He emphasised the need for participants to apply the knowledge gained to improve the University’s teaching, learning and research activities while generating meaningful impact beyond the campus community.
Kehinde also encouraged participants to engage actively in the training and translate its lessons into practical outcomes that would advance the College and the University.
Speaking in his capacity as Dean, Badejo described the seminar as timely, noting that COLENG had produced at least three vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors.
He called for collaborative leadership in academia, stressing that institutional growth depended on leaders and staff working collectively towards shared goals.
Badejo further noted that academic staff influenced students beyond the classroom through their conduct and personal examples. He, therefore, urged participants to demonstrate exemplary leadership, promote professional development and contribute to a lasting institutional legacy.
The resource person, Enikuomehin, a former Acting Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, described the seminar as a wake-up call for improved service delivery and effective leadership within the Nigerian university system.
He defined leadership as the ability to influence people towards achieving set goals, explaining that transformational leadership went beyond routine management to inspire individuals, broaden their interests and foster positive relationships between leaders and staff.
Enikuomehin identified individual development, staff motivation and constructive professional relationships as essential components of transformational leadership. He also advocated credible mentorship mechanisms to build staff capacity, encourage professional growth and improve institutional effectiveness.
He concluded by stressing the importance of creating a supportive teaching and learning environment, noting that it was crucial to improving staff performance and achieving sustainable institutional development.
The seminar featured an interactive question-and-answer session, the presentation of an award to Enikuomehin and group photographs.
