The newly appointed Provost of the Federal Cooperative College (FCC), Eleyele, Ibadan, Dr. Ibrahim Abdulganiyu, has unveiled an ambitious blueprint for the college’s future as he marks his first month in office.

In an interview with CEOAFRICA held in his office on Thursday, March 24, 2025, Dr. Abdulganiyu reflected on the college's legacy and shared his forward-looking agenda aimed at tackling institutional challenges and expanding academic offerings.

"The college was established in 1943, over 80 years ago, with a primary mandate as an in-service training institution for the cooperative sub-sector of Nigeria," he stated. "We were created to train stakeholders and government officials to effectively manage cooperative societies, and since then, we have remained central to cooperative education in Nigeria."

Acknowledging the institution's traditional focus on cooperative studies, Dr. Abdulganiyu proudly highlighted the college’s recent academic growth. "In recent times, the college has evolved tremendously, now offering six additional programs at the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels, including Banking and Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Business Administration, and Home and Rural Economics, alongside our flagship program, Cooperative Economics and Management."

Addressing infrastructural challenges, the Provost emphasized the urgent need for facility upgrades. "We must enhance the facilities we have on ground," he asserted, while also noting that the college had transitioned from the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN).

"This transition demands a reorganization of our administrative structure,” he explained. “We have been directed to redesign the college organogram to align with ARCN’s mandate, creating two major academic schools: the School of Management Studies and the School of Applied Sciences, each headed by a Dean.”

Looking to the future, Dr. Abdulganiyu outlined plans to introduce new programs such as Agri-business Management, Agricultural Extension, Fishery Technology, and Animal Science. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to improving staff and student welfare, increasing internally generated revenue, and maintaining strong academic standards, noting that all National Diploma courses are accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The Provost also shared innovative strategies to boost student enrollment and staff strength. A notable initiative under his administration is the proposed establishment of the Cooperative Innovation and Empowerment Center (CIEC), aimed at providing skill development training for cooperative societies.

“We are determined to equip our students to become job creators, not just job seekers,” Dr. Abdulganiyu emphasized. "Through internships and strategic collaborations with state directors of cooperatives, we aim to strengthen the significance of the cooperative sub-sector across the nation.”

As the college community marked his first month in office, members of staff expressed their optimism and support for his leadership. “He is a good man, and we wish him the very best in life,” a representative remarked.

With a clear vision and a focus on innovation and development, Dr. Abdulganiyu’s leadership promises to usher in a new era of growth and excellence for the Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele, Ibadan.