Akeredolu urges education administrators on research reinforcement, as AAUA graduates 5,145 students

Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has charged Nigerian universities administrators to reinforce their research efforts with a view of solving the contemporary societal problems.

Governor Akeredolu  gave the charge in an address at the 10th and 11th Convocation Ceremony of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko Akoko.

The University convoked 5,145 graduands with the Faculty of Education having 1,415, followed by Faculty of Science – 924, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences – 1061, Faculty of Agriculture -156, Faculty of Arts – 748, Faculty of Law -181, Institute of Education – 307, Institute of Part-Time Programmes – 231, and Diploma – 13. There were 356 graduands who received postgraduate degrees, 25 of whom were in the Ph.D. category. Of the 5,145, 53 made First Class; 1,511 earned Second Class (Upper Division), 2861 bagged Second Class (Lower Division), 667 had Third Class, while 40, were in the Pass category.

The Governor who is the visitor to the institution acknowledged the recent research efforts of AAUA, said, “I am aware of the recent research efforts of both staff and students of AAUA. You must, however, strive to do more.

“The truth is, we are living in a time when true scholarly interventions are required to illuminate gloomy paths and it is time for our state’s institutions, particularly AAUA, to take the lead in this area”

He charged education administrators to make  curriculum more relevant to societal needs.

 He said universities must deliberately work towards bridging the gap between the theory giving  to students and the practical needs of the society, thus, making them employable.

According to him, entrepreneurial training is also more urgent now than before because white collar jobs are becoming a mirage.

He restated the need for

research and learning centres to be prepared to come up with new ideas on how to best cultivate our produce and feed the nation.

He added, “The outlandish repetition of outmoded and inapplicable theories taught in educational institutions would only result in highly qualified citizens who lack the ability to tackle basic problems.”

While congratulating the gruduands, the Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, advised them to look towards creating value for the society and become self-employed and, by extension, employers labour.

He said the state government is immensely pleased to see AAUA under our watch prospering and blossoming, having been among the top 10 institutions in Nigeria.

While noting that government alone cannot fund education, he called on philanthropists, stakeholders, and well-to-do indigenes to join hands in expanding the frontiers of infrastructural development of the state-owned University.

The Visitor thanked the Governing Council, under the guidance of Dr. Tunji Abayomi, and the University Management under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, for working hand-in-hand to sustain the numero uno position of AAUA as Best State University in Nigeria.

In his speech, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, appreciated Governor Akeredolu for the confidence reposed in the Council that was constituted about four years ago.

He said, “By the first quarter of the new year when we present our tenure report, we hope to hand to your government a world class Business School, AAU Business School in Akure. Not only have we worked hard through incredible cooperation and interaction with AAUA Management to raise a beautiful edifice to have AAU Business School, we hope to establish with the ongoing dialogue with a number of prestigious USA Universities, a world class Business Institution.

Abayomi thanked the students of the University for their cooperation, adding, You are at AAUA to be built for the future of the world and to help build the world. Majority of you are guided by this recognition. This is why at AAUA, students continue to excel.

Addressing the Convocation, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, congratulated the graduands on their attainment and charged them to go out there and rule the world, having been given the necessary internationally-equivalent tools.

 Ige said, “As we commission you today to go on your next adventure, we have the confidence and conviction that you were suitably empowered with most crucial life skills, moral rectitude, and activation of your mental and physical potential while under our guidance.

” Make sure you make important contributions to the uplift of your alma mater by becoming good ambassadors and joining forces with the alumni association.

He also congratulated the University’s honorary degree recipient, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, who was conferred with Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa), describing the former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria as a role model to humanity.

The VC highlighted some of the upshots of deepening the integrity of academic prgrammes of the University to include steadily pulling through various accreditation exercises by the National Universities Commission, NUC, and other professional bodies; having subscription from six credible higher institutions in Nigeria through affiliation; and being rated the Best State University in Nigeria in the last three years consecutively in the annual Webometrics Ranking.

He hinted that the research and development activities of the University have taken a progressive dimension