…..as Varsity graduates 550 Students
Adewumi Ademiju
The Vice Chancellor, of the Ekiti state University, EKSU,Ado-Ekiti Prof. Joseph Babatola Ayodele has urged the graduates of the Post graduate school to harness the knowledge they have acquired on excellence,transformation and development.
The Don declared that though the graduation marked an end,yet a magnificent commencement.
He reminded them that: “they had navigated the contours of rigorous lectures,endured demanding research, painful burning of the midnight oil, and moments of doubt to earn the degrees.”
Professor Ayodele spoke at the weekend during the higher degree graduation of the institution. The ceremony which came a day after that of diploma and first degree holders witnessed the conferment of Honorary degrees on two alumni of the institution who distinguished themselves in various areas of human endeavour.
The Vice Chancellor said:
”As you step out of this iconic main auditorium of EKSU, remember that you are carrying away the spirit of EKSU-resilience forged in the very heart of Ekiti, knowledge rooted in Nigerian soil and a commitment to excellence that transcend borders.
” My charge is to call you to embrace the unknown with courage, to innovate amidst challenges and to lead with integrity in a world that desperately needs your voices”.
The Vice Chancellor highlighted the content of mythe higher degrees thus:
“PhD – 155
Master’s – 270
Postgraduate
Diploma – 125
Total 550 ”
Honorary degrees were conferred on two distinguished alumni with Doctor of Finance ( honoris causa).
The recipients included Messrs Abayomi Adeyeri and Akinsanmi Falaki.
The Vice Chancellor added:
“This is our belief that honorary degrees of our university should not be conceded to ‘outsiders’ who are successful but also our alumni with impeccable track records”.
Prof. Ayodele commended governor Biodun Oyebanji for providing an enabling environment that has guarranted stability of the academic calendar for scholarship to thrive.
He said EKSU will continue to do its best to sustain its spectacular rating and remain a shining light in the South-Western states of Nigeria, in particular, and the country in general.
On part time programme of the university, he described what he called strategic evolution of the Directorate of Part-time programmes,DPTP, as a cornerstone of EKSU, which has been a veritable source of internally generated revenue for the university for over three decades.
He explained that under his administration, the DPTP has transitioned from a traditional adult to learning unit into a power house of modern academic excellence, not losing focus of the mission to provide working class and ambitious professionals with a pathway to prestigious degrees without compromising their career trajectories.