Upon his appointment as Provost of his dear Alma Mater, Dr. Rafiu Adekola Soyele, fcidpm, mnim had among his cardinal objectives, the need for collaboration and linkages with other institutions and organisations within and outside the Country.
Such an opportunity came with the Investiture of HRM, Oba Prof. Saka Adeola Matemilola, Otileta VII as a Fellow of the College where he promised to help further the Institution’s researches through linkages.
On Thursday 30th May, 2024, a five (5) member team led by the Dean, Faculty of Education, PennState University, Pennsylvania, USA came visiting the College to have first hand information on how they could collaborate with the College in various courses of study.
The team was warmly received by the Provost, members of Management, some Deans and Directors in the Provost Office. The Provost welcomed the Guests to the First Tertiary Institution in Ogun State and gave them a brief about the College and its core mandate. Furthermore, he discussed areas of possible mutual collaboration and cooperations including innovations, creativity, agriculture and the Sciences.
Speaking in the same vein, the Deans, School of Education, Dr. J.B. Filani; School of Early Childhood, Care, Primary, Adult and Non Formal Education, Dr. A.T. Ariba; School of Science, Dr. I.A. Mofikoya; Directors of Centre for Advancement and Linkages, Dr. K.R.Ojo and Centre for Innovation, Creativity and E- Learning, Dr. A.R Agbonna reiterated the desire for a sound collaboration for exchange and researches with the PennState University and giving reasons why Federal College of Education Abeokuta was suitable for such collaboration.
The Registrar, Dr. G.A. Adebayo also assured a sound Registry that would take care of proper records of such relationship while the Librarian, Dr. C.E. Olaotan also used the medium to inform on the College Library and the desire to collaborate through encouraging students to appreciate reading culture for better understanding of the world.
In her own remarks, the leader of the delegation, Prof. Kilberly Lawless emphasized that knowledge was not static and they were in our institution to see how collaborating with the College could also help improve their University and in turn be favourable to the College. She highlighted their desires for a relationship that could help create a robust exchange between the two institutions.
Other members of her team also discussed on individual expectations from the collaboration.
Similarly, the Orunto of Owu Kingdom, High Chief Abiodun Lasile who represented the Oluwu of Owu Kingdom at the meeting noted that Kabiyesi was interested in the collaboration and wished the two institutions well.
On the PennState University team were the following: Professors Kimberly Lawless, Esther Obonyo, S’oerd Duiker, Sylvester Osagie and Director Nel White.
Further engagements were resolved to follow the visit while interactions would continue online on ways of perfecting the relationship.
The Team was taken on a tour of the College and Gallery after they had been decorated with the College lapel pins as friends of the College.