VC Reaffirms Commitment to Campus Safety as FUNAAB Launches Bio-Risk Management Policy 

By Olasunkanmi Olajide & Emeka Oluka 

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, has reaffirmed the University’s unwavering commitment to ensuring a safe and secure environment for all, as FUNAAB officially launched its Bio-Risk Management Policy.

Speaking at the unveiling, Prof. Kehinde commended the Institutional Bio-Risk Management (IBRM) Policy Implementation Committee for their dedication and foresight in crafting the policy. He emphasised that the document was not just a formality, but a vital tool in promoting safety, fostering innovation, and protecting the University Community, some of which were the students, staff, researchers, and visitors alike.

According to him, the policy represented a proactive step towards addressing the growing challenges associated with research involving biological agents. He reiterated that FUNAAB was fully committed to its effective implementation, noting that the policy would help institutionalise a robust culture of risk awareness and biosafety compliance in all research and academic activities.

Earlier, the Chairman of the IBRM Policy Implementation Committee, Prof. Adebayo Akinloye, highlighted the core objectives of the policy, ranging from Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, Risk Mitigation, Training, and Awareness. He noted that the increasing complexity of biological research necessitated structured and comprehensive safety frameworks.

Dr. Mike Agbaje, who presented the policy document, explained its major components, which included Biorisk Assessment, Risk Characterisation and Classification, Mitigation Strategies, Transport of Biological Agents, Waste Management, Biohazard Waste Segregation, and Emergency Preparedness.

He also outlined the roles and responsibilities assigned to stakeholders within the University, from Top-Level Administrators and Heads of Departments/Units to Laboratory staff, Principal Investigators, students, and visitors, while stressing the need for shared accountability in ensuring biosafety.

Importantly, the policy aligned with national and international biosafety regulations, including those of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), thereby reinforcing FUNAAB’s alignment with global best practices.

The launch of the Bio-Risk Management Policy marked a significant stride in FUNAAB’s mission to maintain excellence in research and learning within a safe, secure, and globally compliant academic environment.