A total number of 53 students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, AAUA, ondo state have bagged first-class degrees from the institution.
The first-class students would be among the 5,145 students from various departments of the university, to be awarded bachelor’s degrees at the forthcoming convocation of the school.
A former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria and business magnet, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika will also be conferred with Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university , Prof. Olugbenga Ige disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the preparations of the institution for the 10th and 11th convocation ceremony of the school.
Giving a breakdown of the class of degrees, Prof. Ige said “ 1,511 earned Second Class (Upper Division), 2861 bagged Second Class (Lower Division), 667 had Third Class, while 40, are in the Pass category.”
The VC added, “There are 356 graduands receiving postgraduate degrees, 25 of whom are in the Ph.D. category, the highest in the history of this University.”
Prof.Ige( middle) addressing newsmen at AAUA Senate building.
Ige further disclosed that a distinguished Nigerian and a former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika will be conferred with Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) during the ceremony.
Speaking on the research
and development activities in the institution, The VC noted that apart from the Centre for Infectious Diseases Control and Drugs Development which is at the forefront of human capacity development through workshop and training programmes, the University has consistently been conducting training on Application of Bioinformatics Tools in Drug Design, Discovery and Development, among others.
He said “Several academic staff have stepped up their games in research as some of them recently won grants that will enable them to proffer solutions to societal problems.
“As a corollary of our research efforts, just recently an assemblage of researchers at AAUA was reported to have reached an advanced stage in producing disease and drought-resistant beans and tomatoes, while another group of researchers is on the verge of producing a potent anti-termite solution from a common local plant.”
“We have deliberately reinvigorated our Centre for Entrepreneurship Development. The Centre is now more focused on the practical aspect of entrepreneurship.
“Our students and interested members of the public are being trained on production of various domestic needs, including shoe and belt making, fabrics sewing, nylon and soap production and pastry production.
“The University has not abandoned its promises to support students through the Students’ Support Centre, which administers and oversees scholarships and financial aid to a variety of students, including gifted, indigent, and physically challenged students.
“Under the terms of the agreement, the University will cover half of the school expenses for all physically challenged students, while the best students in each Department with a CGPA in the first-class range will get a scholarship at the end of the academic year.
“Indigent students who are unable to pay their school fees can get a loan for around a third of their expenses. The institution’s Governing Council members made a donation of about five million naira to cater for the students in this category.
“We have also recently reintroduced and engaged students for our Student Work-Study Scheme. The programme permits willing students to work for two hours each day on campus while studying and be paid at the conclusion of each semester.
Yet, we have encouraged our students to hone their skills in all ramifications, especially in the areas of innovation, sports, entertainment and artistic performances.
“We are happy that our efforts are yielding good results. Just two months ago, the University Football team, known as the AAUA Luminaries, finished first runners-up nationally in the maiden Higher Institutions Football League. There were also individual wins for our students, including Best Goalkeeper Award and Best Goal of the Competition Award.
“Just recently, Oluwadamilola Akintewe, a female student in the Faculty of Law, was named among the top 10 finalists for the Cheggord Global Student Prize, 2021: a $100,000 award to be given to one exceptional student that has made a real impact on learning and the society.
“The latest innovation by some of our students is the invention of a robotic dog, which is the first of its kind in the entire country. These kind of lofty feats have earned Adekunle Ajasin University the rating of Primus Inter Pares among her peers in Nigeria.
“Today, the University is among the top 10 in Nigeria and one of the best 45 in Africa.
“It is our desire to bring all students to campus as over 90 per cent of them live off campus. Thus, we have reviewed our Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) policy and made it flexible for individuals, corporate bodies and philanthropists to come build student hostels on our campus.
“Permit me to use this medium to invite the well-to-do individuals and corporate organisations to join us in this developmental project.”