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| Cross Section of Graduating Student |
In a country where employment is as scarce as the proverbial masquerader’s faeces, 10 graduating students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, are now faced with the challenge of making a choice between the two jobs they were offered on the convocation ground last Thursday. The students had graduated with first class degree in various disciplines.
First, it was the university that offered them an automatic job as graduate assistant lecturers for distinguishing themselves in their studies. They must have been expecting that because since the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Mimiko, resumed four years ago, he had instituted the automatic job scheme for any student that makes a first class. The idea, he says, is to engender scholarship and breed more faculty members for the institution.
But 10 of the 5,503 of the graduating students got more than they bargained for as they were offered other automatic jobs by the Ondo State Government. The state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who is also the Visitor to AAUA, had, in his address at the ceremony, commended the first class graduating students for doing themselves, their parents and the institution proud. He also congratulated others on the successful completion of their studies.
But raising his head and looking in the direction of the first class degree students, Mimiko said, “I know that those of you who have first-class will want to come back to the university. But if any one of you is not interested in academic career, rest assured that you have automatic employment in the state civil service.”
No sooner had he made this declaration than the crowd, including the VC, the beneficiaries, parents, students and the other graduating students, rose and clapped for the governor. The atmosphere became ecstatic. Some of the graduating students threw their mortal boards into the air, while some shouted for joy. Mimiko paused for some minutes, watched the crowd and then continued his address. The gesture, he said, was to motivate others and reward hard work and excellence.
He, however, noted that quality and functional education was needed to kick out violence, ignorance, disease and criminality of the nation.
The Visitor also expressed delight at the progress so far made by the university, especially under the incumbent VC, who, together with his team, the governor noted, had aligned themselves passionately to achieving the dream of AAU’s founding-fathers. In this regard, he cited constant review of curriculum and establishment of centres to meet with the ever-changing needs of the society and to produce competitive and self-reliant graduates.
Mimiko tasked the university to further put sustainable structures in place to drive the ideas of the institution and build a 21st Century university.
He congratulated the university community on the milestones achieved by its students, alumni and members of staff in the last four years.
Two of the first class graduating students, Adu Francis, who was the best graduating student for the 2009/2010, and Ogunleye Modupe, who emerged the best in the 2010/2011 session, thanked the governor and the university for the job offer. Adu, who scored a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.69 out of a possible 5.0, also thanked the university authority, lecturers and all members of the university community for their efforts at making them complete their studies on a successful note. Ogunleye, who obtained 4.62 to bag a first class degree in Management Science, also commended their parents and their relations for their support all through their stay on campus.
They promised to deploy all the virtues of hard work, diligence and discipline the institution had deposited into them to become better citizens that would join efforts with others to move the country forward.
Earlier, the VC had noted that the convocation had availed the university the opportunity to take stock and appraise how far it has kept faith with the strategic vision and mission of the institution.
He said, “Our determination to build a 21st Century university, properly called, is a complementary resolve to the founding-father’s dream, which is based on the principles of selfless service, discipline, character, enterprise, massive infrastructural development, quality teaching and research.”
He explained that his administration’s determination to remain focused on these principles had delivered results in the areas of research, production of quality and globally competitive graduates, staff welfare and development.
The VC noted that although AAU was aware of the huge challenges of building a globally competitive university in a clime where education is on the edge of a precipice, “it has put enduring measures and structure in place to keep afloat. These include a merit-based admission policy, ICT-based post-UTME, curriculum re-engineering, expansion of research facilities, a continuous capacity building programme, integrity-based examination, improved quality of instructions, networking and exchange programmes, among others.”
These measures, he added, had won the institution laurels at international and national competitions.
Mimiko, who is also the governor’s brother, said while 29 alumni and staff of the university earned PhD last year, about 45 others were studying for their higher degrees across the world.
He appreciated the support of Governor Mimiko to the university and thanked all the stakeholders for their cooperation.
Giving a breakdown of the degrees awarded to the graduating students, the VC said 4,874 received first degree, 292 got postgraduate diploma certificates, 327, Master’s degree while the remaining four bagged PhD.
“Ten of the 4,874 obtained first degree, 343 bagged second class upper, 3,294 got second class lower degree, 693 got third class, while the remaining 34 graduated with pass,” he added.
But the convocation was not just about the graduating students alone, as the institution also conferred Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa, on three distinguished Nigerians. They are retired Bishop of Anglican Communion of Akure Diocese, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi; a professor of African Studies, Toyin Falola; and a former member of the Supreme Military Council and also a former federal commissioner, Major-General Olufemi Olutoye(rtd).
Gbonigi was honoured for his contributions to humanity and impact in the conscience of Nigerians as a fearless crusader of justice and democracy, public accountability and social development. The VC said Falola was honoured, not only for his act of generosity to AAUA, but also for his commitment to deepening African cultural values, while Olutoye was honoured for his commitment to the uplift of Nigerian communities and fortunes of Nigerians and Africans in general.
The Chancellor of the university, who is also the Rebuja and Paramount Ruler of Osooro Land, Oba Gbadebo Bajowa, expressed appreciation to Governor Mimiko for giving him the privilege to serve and for allowing him to perform his statutory role unhindered.
He acknowledged the governor’s obvious recognition of education as the engine of the overall development of society, saying posterity would record him as one governor who gave education its pride of place and supported it with robust financial backing.
The monarch also congratulated the graduating students on their academic success and urged them to be good ambassadors of AAUA and useful members of the society.
Also, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, (OFR), appreciated the cooperation and commitment of all stakeholders to the success of the university.
He particularly acknowledged the Visitor’s patriotism and visionary leadership through the choice of men and women of industry and commitment from across the country as members of the university council. This, he said, was in compliance with the principle of universality upon which universities are established worldwide.
“University Council is resolved to support all pro-active measures and initiatives that will move the university forward and accord it a place in the comity of global academia,” he added.
The Chairman of Council also instituted a N50, 000 cash prize each for best graduating students in Criminal Law and Law of Evidence respectively.
One novel feature of this year’s ceremony was that the convocation lecture was delivered in Yoruba Language by Prof Akinwumi Isola. At the end of the event, 38 graduating students, including the 10 first class graduates, were rewarded with cash prizes ranging from N10,000 and N100,000.
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