By: Adeboye Ado
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has expressed his administration’s commitment towards the funding of state-owned tertiary Institutions despite dwindling resources.
Akeredolu also assured that he would continue to do his best in funding the schools in order to ensure that they provide qualitative education and make graduates self-reliant.
The Governor stated this at the combined 10th and 11th Convocation Ceremony of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) where no fewer than 5,145 graduates were convocated.
Ondo state owned tertiary institutions including AAUA; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.
Akeredolu who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, noted that the goal of tertiary institutions should be to make their products Self-sustaining.
This, he said, would ameliorate restiveness, lure of cybercrime, and other forms of vices occasioned by the spate unemployment.
The governor said, “let me assure you that we will continue to do our best to fund our higher institutions inspite of the competing demands in the midst of dwindling government services”
“Entrepreneurship is more urgent now than never before because white collar jobs are becoming a mirage.
“Our graduates should look towards creating value for the society and become self employed and by extension, employers of labour Today AAUA is among the top 10 Institutions in Nigeria, we pleased to see the Institution flourishing”, he said.
Akeredolu who doubles as the Chairman of South West Governor’s Forum, called on philanthropists, well meaning individuals to collaborate with the Government to expand frontier of infrastructural development in the Sunshine State.
Earlier, the Pro Chancellor of the University, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, wondered how the citadel of learning would have survived without a vision that compelled a relative increase in the University’s income through tuition hike.
Abayomi pointed out that the council members of school have worked hard to sustain the University and enhance qualitative education.
The legal luminary revealed that by the first quarter of the new year, after a tenure report, a world class Business School may be unveiled
He said “when we present our tenure report, we hope to hand to your government a word 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, we hope to establish with the ongoing dialogue with a number of prestigious USA universities”.
In an address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, said the institution had been rated the best State University in Nigeria in the last three consecutive years in the annual webometric ranking.
This is just as Prof Ige disclosed that the Institution is not relenting in its all-out efforts to churn out the best brains to tackle myriad of challenges facing humanity and the society.
According to the VC, AAUA is working assiduously towards positioning the Varsity as not only the best, but to be the first among equals.
“Because we have improved on our presence on the web, especially in terms of the quality of our academic programmes and research. AAUA has been rated the best State University in Nigeria in the last three consecutive years in the annual webometric ranking.
“Of course there is no eldorado in this for us as we are in a hurry to be the best in Nigeria and take a prominent position globally. The University has remained committed to the retraining of its workers in order to produce a highly motivated workforce,” he said.
The VC, however, urged the graduates to make use the internationally equivalent tool, knowledge and talents obtained from the citadel of learning.
Meanwhile, a former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria and business magnet, Dr (Mrs) Ibukun Awosika has been conferred with Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) of Adekunle Ajasin University.
Dr. Awosika who is known for her numerous feats in the business industry received the award with euphoria.
While accepting the honorary award, she urged graduates to build a better Nigeria from the knowledge gleaned from academia.
Dr Awosika advised the students to eschew impudent and licentious behaviours which are antithetical to morals, maintaining that such acts could exclude them from humongous opportunities lurking around.
On the award, the Businesswoman extolled the management of the Institution, saying “it is not a right, but a privilege”
