As part of efforts of the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, to expand the frontiers of knowledge, a giant step was taken on Tuesday, 17th May 2022, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta FUNAAB, which ceded the custody of the Ijegba Forestage to the institution.
The Ijegba Forestage, comprising of residence, library, and writers’ retreat residency is to be managed by the university to promote academic, cultural, ecological, and recreational studies leading to deepening of multicultural studies that can strengthen the integration of science and humanities.
At the low-key signing ceremony, held at the Ijegba Forestage, Professor Soyinka, who is a honorary Doctorate degree awardee of FUNAAB, expressed his broad views on how the entire space should be put into use, now and even after his exit.
The Nobel laureate expressed strong conviction on the need to run the place as an autonomous body, dedicated to the promotion of knowledge of science and humanities; and bringing together researchers all over the world to use the facilities in their natural form, irrespective of discipline.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Professor Felix Kolawole Salako, expressed appreciation to the Nobel laureate, assuring that the university will make the best use of the gesture of the donor, using his ideals as a guide.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that in spite of the separation of disciplines for award of degrees, all of them have a point where they merge for the benefit of mankind.
He added that FUNAAB recognises this dictum when it awarded honorary degrees to Professors Wole Soyinka and Toyin Falola, who are in the field of humanities.
