Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, has announced that 76 out of 2,336 first-degree graduates will be graduating with First-Class honours at the institution’s 17th convocation ceremony.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebunoluwa Oduwole, made this known at a news conference on Tuesday.
The news conference was to announce the university’s 17th convocation, scheduled to hold between Nov. 23 and Nov. 27 at the school’s main campus in Oyo town.
Oduwole also said 1,408 graduates were in the Second Class Honours (Upper) division; 810 were in the Second Class Honours (Lower) division and 42 graduates were in the Third Class division.
According to her, 170 individuals will receive various postgraduate diplomas, and 1,127 will receive Master’s Degree awards in various disciplines.
She urged the graduates to see their success as a powerful weapon for positive change.
“The insights and skills you have gained will empower you to address societal needs.
“You are armed with this powerful tool, and I charge you to use it to uplift communities, champion justice, and pursue excellence with humility.
“You should be guided by the values of Ajayi Crowther University, which include integrity, compassion, and service to humanity,” she said.
The VC disclosed that various engineering, entrepreneurial, and agricultural innovations from ACU would be showcased as part of the convocation activities.
She added that the convocation lecture would be delivered during the grand finale by one of the institution’s professors, Toyin Falola.
Speaking on the achievements of her administration in the last 60 days as the VC, Oduwole said the National University Commission (NUC) accreditation team had approved accreditation and re-accreditation of seven programmes.
She said that the new academic programmes were already being processed for NUC resource verification, including the establishment of diploma and certificate courses across all the institution’s programmes.
“Management is intensifying efforts to establish the College of Health Sciences, in which Pre-Medicine, Medicine, Pharmacy, and other concomitant course offerings shall be domiciled.
“Furthermore, given our drive for collaboration, a Memorandum of Understanding has been drafted with the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria to explore academic and mutual areas of agricultural development.
“Also, the productive use of our university’s vast land spaces at the Kiyeseni, Offa-Meta, and Osoogun Campuses, “ the VC said.
Oduwole warned that the management has zero tolerance for substance abuse, noting that any culprit found to have abused drugs or aided an abuser would face the relevant sections of the university law and the national law.
She added that the management had developed a more robust Staff Development Programme and Research Policy that would foster a culture where staff welfare became paramount, with assurances of prompt payment of competitive salaries and other benefits.
“We should strive to cleanse our society from mental corruption, psychological imbalance, and social degradation.
“To really achieve this aim, we have sought the collaboration of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, which has been invited to give sensitisation talks.
“As we look to the future, we remain committed to fostering an environment that prioritised academic excellence, innovation, and responsibility to society.
“Our mission is not only to educate, but to equip our students with the skills and values they need to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world,” she said.
