- 62 of 6, 837 Graduands Earn First-Class Degree, Adeunola Emerges Overall Best
- Council is Open to Collaboration – Pro-Chancellor
- “The World Awaits your Contributions”, VC Encourages Graduands
Visitor to Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, and Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has praised the institution for consistently bringing global recognition to the state and pledged his administration’s untiring support to sustain its impressive achievements.
Speaking at the 13th Convocation Ceremony held on Saturday, December 14, 2024, Governor Aiyedatiwa congratulated the University on its continued academic excellence.
A total of 6,837 students graduated from the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions, with 62 earning First-Class Honours. Adeunola Anthonia Abe, a Linguistics and Languages graduate, emerged as the overall best, boasting a CGPA of 4.82. This number of graduands includes 657 postgraduate students, among whom 46 have earned their Ph.D. degrees.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, Hon. Adegboyega Adeyemi Adefarati, and Mr. Hamzat Ayodele Subair, were also conferred with honorary degrees of Doctor of Public Administration, Doctor of Political Science, and Doctor of Business Administration, respectively, for their contributions to public service and societal development.
Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasised the pivotal role AAUA plays in Ondo State’s socio-economic and intellectual development. He noted that a substantial portion of the state’s workforce comprises AAUA alumni and praised the University for producing skilled individuals ready to contribute to society.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the university, particularly in areas such as infrastructural development and the implementation of the newly-approved minimum wage.
Dr. Aiyedatiwa said, “Adekunle Ajasin University stands as our premier institution, consistently earning global accolades. Over the years, its graduates and staff members have demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication, further solidifying its reputation as a center of excellence. I want to assure the leadership of this institution of our unwavering support, particularly in terms of
infrastructural development and the implementation of the newly-approved minimum wage.
“As a government, we are committed to ensuring that Adekunle Ajasin University continues to thrive. We will sustain and enhance our support to ensure it remains competitive and innovative, producing the calibre of graduates that Ondo State and Nigeria need to excel in the 21st century.”
He expressed appreciation to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige and his management team for their tireless efforts in upholding the vision and mission of the university’s founding fathers.
He congratulated all graduands and other honourary awardees on their accomplishments, charging members of the graduating classes to uphold the values- integrity, diligence and the pursuit of excellence instilled in them during their time in the University.
In his speech, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, called for increased collaboration from stakeholders and well-meaning individuals. “The Council is open to partnerships and ready to offer favorable terms to interested parties. Together, we can build a world-class university that serves Ondo State, Nigeria, and the global community,” he said.
Dr. Abayomi commended the Governor for his administration’s support and appealed for greater backing to elevate the University to new heights.
Addressing the Convocation, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, congratulated the graduands and urged them to uphold the University’s values of integrity, diligence, and excellence.
“The world eagerly awaits your contributions. Strive for innovation and excellence, as these traits will distinguish you in your professional journeys,” Prof. Ige encouraged.
He highlighted the University’s achievements, including securing research grants, excelling in accreditation exercises by the National Universities Commission (NUC), and fostering a globally competitive academic environment.
He added, “In terms of research and development, our academics have consistently achieved remarkable global recognition, an attestation to the University’s commitment to excellence and innovation. Most notably, nine of our academics were recently ranked among the top 2% of global scientists in the prestigious 2024 Stanford-Elsevier ranking.
“This monumental achievement not only underscores their exceptional expertise but also reaffirms the world-class standards of our institution’s academic and research capabilities. We are confident that similar global assessments in fields such as social sciences, arts, and humanities would reveal equally impressive achievements by our staff in these disciplines.
It is against this backdrop that I proudly assert that today’s graduands have been nurtured and mentored by a truly world-class workforce. They have had the privilege of learning from some of the finest minds in academia.
As part of the convocation activities, Governor Aiyedatiwa performed the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Hall of Residence, a key project commemorating the University’s 25th Anniversary. He lauded the Management’s for prioritising student welfare and called for collective support to complete the project in record’s time, stressing, “All of us must support this project”.
