Innovation for inclusive development among specialized universities: the case of a community-based farming scheme in FUNAAB

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper presents an analysis of how a specialized university in its pursuit of community engagement interacts with external social partners, especially marginalized communities, taking the case of community-based farming scheme in the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta to promote innovation for inclusive development. The methodological approach to the study relies on case study analysis using in-depth interviews of senior management, principal officers and students of the university, and community leaders. Purposive sampling technique was adopted. Findings revealed that the major drivers of interaction for the university are primarily a mixture of social and intellectual imperatives, while from the community's point of view, the main drivers of interaction are poverty alleviation, infrastructural development, access to knowledge, training and economic development. The study concludes that this is a case of interaction that improves the livelihoods of marginalized rural farming communities, and can thus promote inclusive development.