The Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO) has announced Friday, March 6, 2026, as the official resumption date for its pioneer batch of students, marking a critical milestone in the institution’s takeoff.
The decision followed the university’s inaugural statutory meeting of the Senate, held on Wednesday, February 4, 2025, where key reports on institutional readiness were considered and the academic roadmap for the maiden cohort was formally approved.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Registrar and Secretary to the University Senate, Amuni Mohammed Olayinka, disclosed that the Senate’s resolution was informed by detailed submissions from the university management as well as the Committee of Deans and Directors.
According to him, the Senate reviewed comprehensive assessments on infrastructure, staffing, academic planning and student welfare before approving the resumption timeline.
“The University Senate, at its 1st (Inaugural) Statutory meeting, received reports from the University Management and Committee of Deans and Directors on the preparedness of the university towards students’ resumption,” Olayinka said.
“Sequel to the consideration of these reports, the Senate took far-reaching decisions to ensure a smooth resumption and the wellness of students.”
The approved 2025/2026 academic calendar, he explained, is structured to position FUNATO firmly within Nigeria’s national university cycle. Following the March 6 resumption, student registration will run until March 10, after which a compulsory orientation programme will be held from March 11 to March 19.
Formal academic work will begin shortly afterwards, with first semester lectures scheduled to commence on Monday, March 23, 2026. The university’s maiden matriculation ceremony has been fixed for Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
Examinations for the first semester are expected to hold in July, after which students will proceed on a short break. The second semester is scheduled to begin on August 3, 2026, while the entire academic session is projected to end on November 30. The 2026/2027 academic session is tentatively slated to commence on December 14, 2026.
Addressing concerns about accommodation in the host community of Okeho, located in Kajola Local Government, Olayinka said the university has adopted a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach to guarantee safe and affordable housing for its pioneer students.
He noted that while FUNATO is a developing institution, concrete arrangements have been made to regulate, secure and monitor private hostel facilities around the campus.
“The University has taken steps to provide hostel accommodation for students through public/private partnership arrangements. The University will provide hostel accommodation within the communities around the University at reasonable rent rates, properly regulated and secured by the University,” the statement read.
The Registrar further explained that matriculation numbers would soon be issued to candidates who have already paid their acceptance fees, enabling them to proceed with school fees payment and full registration.
Prospective students who are yet to secure admission were also advised to take advantage of the ongoing window for change of institution on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) portal.
“Candidates who are interested in pursuing their choice programmes in FUNATO still have the opportunity to apply, as the JAMB portal is still very open for the change of their university of choice,” Olayinka stated.
The university management, alongside the Senate, congratulated the incoming students, describing them as the foundation upon which FUNATO’s academic and institutional legacy will be built.
FUNATO, which was established in 2025 following the signing of its enabling bill into law, is currently making final preparations ahead of the formal matriculation of its first students.
Speaking on the institution’s vision, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olaniyi Babayemi, said the university is committed to producing graduates equipped to meet contemporary societal and economic challenges.
“Our mission is to produce graduates who are not only academically excellent but also entrepreneurially driven, technologically savvy, and prepared to address the complex challenges of the 21st century,” Babayemi said.
As the resumption date draws closer, the university urged admitted candidates to complete all registration processes promptly to avoid last-minute technical difficulties.