The Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko, AAUA, Professor Olugbenga Ebenezer Ige attended the audience at the matriculation ceremony of the fresh students for the 2020/2021 academic session
Professor Ige delivered the address in an event held on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Multipurpose Hall.
Here is the full speech.
SPEECH OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY, AKUNGBA AKOKO, PROFESSOR OLUGBENGA E. IGE, AT THE MATRICULATION CEREMONY OF THE FRESH STUDENTS FOR THE 2020/2021 ACADEMIC SESSION HELD IN THE UNIVERSITY MULTIPURPOSE HALL ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021.
PROTOCOLS:
It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the occasion of the 2020/2021 Matriculation Ceremony for our newly admitted students. As you may be aware, a matriculation ceremony is a very significant academic tradition in the University system. Apart from administering the Matriculation Oath as a symbol of induction into the membership of the University Community, this event is equally a formal way of ushering our new students into the institution towards fulfilling the goal of impacting society through learning, research, and community service.
Therefore, on behalf of the University Management and the Senate, I warmly welcome our new students and their parents, guardians, and well-wishers to this award-winning University. In a special way, I congratulate the over Five Thousand (5,000) students who have been offered admission to study in the University for scaling the hurdles of the admission process among the multitude of over Twenty Thousand (20,000) applicants that subscribed to the University.
The implication of this is that your success in the admission process is a golden opportunity that must be guided jealously. It is on this note that I would like to admonish you to take your admission seriously by being studious and ensuring that your studentship is sustained.
As the University remains committed to providing an enabling environment that is conducive for learning within its extant regulations and available resources, the honor is on you, by the reason of the Oath you have undertaken today, to conduct yourself responsibly and take advantage of the available facilities to enhance success in your studies.
My dear students, it is important for me to mention that Adekunle Ajasin University is a student-centered institution that has become a potent boot camp for grooming confident and globally competitive graduates who are distinguished in character and learning.
In this direction, our students and alumni’s landmarks continue to point to the University’s passion for academic excellence, self-reliance and global impact. 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 new $100,000 award to be given to one exceptional student that has made a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers and on the society an award that attracted the sum named.
We cannot also forget several roles our distinguished Alumni have continued to individually and collectively to make the university proud. Apart from many that have distinguished themselves in knowledge and character, many others have also won several awards in academics, sports, music, and many more. The University has also showcased her drive for creativity and innovation on several fronts. 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 kinds 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.
As a University, we cherish these modest achievements and guard them jealously. Indeed, we yearn for more. And we are confident that having admitted you through our merit-driven admission policy, we have opened the door for achieving more laurels and attaining our aspiration to be the best University in Nigeria, and among the best 10 in Africa.
While I wish to remind you that the University does not reckon with the identity of anyone that has failed to duly register as a student, I charge you to complete your registration process before the forthcoming examinations; embrace self-discipline; maintain a decent mode of dressing at all times; shun cultism and examination malpractice; be diligent in your studies, and comport yourself with dignity.
I must recognize the fact that we live in a fast-changing world, particularly since the advent of social media. However, it has become clear to the discerning that social media is a double-edged sword that is as dangerous as it is beneficial. Do not rush to post anything negative about your university on social media. There are officers you can approach for an explanation on things that are not clear to you. Not only is it unwise to de-market or denigrate an institution whose certificate you will take to the labor market after your studies, but it could also land you in big trouble if it is discovered that the information you put out was false and malicious.
As an academic community, we are aware that there could be challenges in the course of your academic pursuit. In such instances, I wish to assure you that you are not defenseless. There are mechanisms put in place by which frictions between students and or students and staff can be addressed. Such mechanism of the complaint can be explored at the Departmental level to the faculty level. You can also approach the Student Union leaders, the Office of Dean of Students, or the Security Unit for kind interventions. You may also wish to write the Vice Chancellor’s office at vc@aaua.edu.ng., if the need be.
Finally, as you officially become members of the University community through the Matriculation Oath you have undertaken today, I advise you to eschew the doomed path of misconduct, criminality, and social vices so that your dreams of becoming responsible citizens and future leaders could be realized. The touch of knowledge we have committed into your hands today must not be blown off: it must continue to burn to enlighten your world. I urge you to be focused, determined, diligent, and law-abiding.
Once again, I congratulate you and I wish you the best in your academic journey through Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, where we are building a properly called 21st Century University!
Thank you.
Author
Agbelusi Samuel is a campus journalist, writer, red carpet host, political and sport analyst. A political science student that covers news and politics beats for AAUA INSIDER.