Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), on Saturday produced a total of 5,799 graduates, including 32 First Class degree holders, at its 14th Convocation Ceremony, with the Ondo State Government pledging renewed attention to the institution’s funding challenges.
The Visitor to the University and Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, commended AAUA for its critical role in the intellectual and human capital development of the state and the nation, assuring that his administration would look into the university’s funding needs.
Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, the Governor congratulated the graduands and urged them to excel in their chosen paths while remaining worthy ambassadors of both the university and Ondo State.
He praised the university management for successfully navigating challenging periods and pledged government support to sustain the institution’s growth and stability.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, reaffirmed the council’s resolve to sustain AAUA’s rising profile within the global academic community.
He noted that with adequate funding, the university could rank among the best in Nigeria and globally, advocating an annual subvention of ₦12 billion to unlock its full potential.
Dr. Abayomi said the council had worked closely with the Senate to drive innovation, strengthen governance, and promote holistic development, stressing that achieving global competitiveness would require collective commitment and support.
In his valedictory convocation address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, announced that 32 graduates earned First Class Honours degrees out of the 5,799 graduands, made up of 5,251 undergraduates, 526 postgraduates, and 22 diploma students.
He disclosed that the First Class graduates would be offered automatic employment by the university after completing their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
Prof. Ige urged all graduands to uphold the values of integrity, diligence, and service instilled in them, describing convocation as a reminder that learning is a lifelong journey requiring discipline, perseverance, and vision.
Highlighting achievements recorded during his five-year tenure, the Vice Chancellor said AAUA had consolidated its status as one of Nigeria’s leading state universities, with notable progress in research, digital learning, academic expansion, staff development, student welfare, sports, and global partnerships.
He revealed that the number of faculties had expanded from seven to ten, with the establishment of new faculties of Administration and Management Sciences, Allied Health Sciences, and Computing, as well as new departments including French, Food Science, and Library and Information Science.
On research excellence, Prof. Ige announced that nine AAUA scholars were listed in the 2024 Elsevier–Stanford Global Ranking, a feat he said underscored the university’s growing influence in high-impact research.
He also disclosed that the number of inaugural lectures had increased significantly, rising from the 15th edition in 2021 to the 51st, with the 52nd scheduled for delivery this week.
Despite financial constraints, the Vice Chancellor said the university recorded major infrastructural upgrades, including the completion of new Faculty of Science and Faculty of Social Sciences buildings, renovation of several academic halls, and the upgrade of the AAUA Business School in Akure.
He added that student welfare had been strengthened through scholarships, work-study schemes, and sports development, with AAUA students recording impressive performances at national competitions such as the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA).
As his tenure winds down next year, Prof. Ige expressed gratitude to the Visitor, staff, students, and unions for their cooperation and support, saying the administration had remained faithful to the vision of the university’s founding fathers.
The Overall Best Graduating Student, Folake Racheal Omonitan of the Department of Biochemistry, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.79, attributed her success to focus and determination, urging her fellow graduates to face the future with confidence and the belief that nothing is impossible.
