Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye has successfully matriculated no fewer than 6,290 fresh students into various programmes for the 2020/2021 academic session. The students, who were newly admitted across the Colleges, Faculties and Departments of the University, took the Matriculation Oath at a ceremony held inside the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Lecture Theatre, Main Campus, Ago-Iwoye on Friday, July 30, 2021.
delivering his address
Addressing the matriculants, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, congratulated the freshmen for scaling through the hurdles of qualifying examinations and other prerequisite qualifications necessary for gaining admission into the University. He also lauded their parents and guardians for providing the support and logistics to secure the admission.Prof. Olatunde, who noted that the event marked the beginning of a new journey, warned the fresh students against cultism and other anti-social behaviours that could bring their names and the University into disrepute. According to him, the University expects the best behaviours from the matriculants and is adequately positioned to prepare them to meet the demands and challenges of the 21st Century as prospective graduates.
He pointed out that OOU remains one of the leading Universities in the country where good character and useful learning are impacted on students with the ultimate motive of moulding them to be useful citizens and encouraging them to excel in all meaningful endeavours they may decide to undertake after their studies.
The Vice-Chancellor urged the new students to familiarise themselves with the regulations guiding registration, examinations, use of facilities, attendance of lectures, timetable and relationships with staff and students as well as other members of the University Community.
“I must warn you that the University has zero tolerance for cultism and other anti-social behaviours.
You are advised to face your studies seriously and shun any act or activities that are capable of tarnishing your image or bring the name of the University into disrepute. Avoid activities capable of truncating your academic career in the University and operate within the approved code of conduct and abide by the rules and regulations to have a successful academic sojourn in the University,” he advised.
In ensuring that students are motivated to develop their competencies and expertise in their various callings, Prof. Olatunde explained that the University Governing Council, Senate and Management have consistently enhanced the development of facilities and equipment that will engender quality teaching and learning at the institution, thus providing vital educational experience for students and the public through excellence in teaching, research, creative activities and service to the community, state and the nation.
He declared that the University Management was irrevocably committed towards the continued provision of excellent and conducive academic and enabling environment to assist students to fully exploit and discover their potentials.
“The University has recorded tremendous success and turnaround in its academic, infrastructural and curricular development,” the Vice-Chancellor enthused. “Our academic programmes have continued to wax stronger in terms of currency and relevance to national development with all our programmes accredited by the National Universities Commission.”
He added: “Significant achievements were also recorded in the area of infrastructural development vis-a-vis the number of academic buildings, laboratories, equipment, other municipal facilities that dotted the landscape in all campuses of the University as well as the provision of aesthetic environment conducive for teaching, learning and research in the University. “The curriculum of various programmes are also being continuously reviewed to make them relevant to the needs of the nation, with special emphasis on the administration of additional entrepreneurial skills and competencies in trades by our students so that they can become future employers of labour and job creators.”
Prof. Olatunde further remarked that as part of efforts to make OOU a world class citadel of learning, the University Management has provided functional modern information and communications technology (ICT) facilities and upgraded the University website to enhance its visibility and optimal performance. “On our part as Management, we will continue to add value to the system and strive hard to ensure that the University is ranked among the best Universities in this country,” he assured.
The Oath-taking of the matriculants, which was led by the Registrar of the University, Mr. Femi Ogunwomoju, was climaxed by the formal admission of the freshmen as OOU students with all rights and privileges by the Vice-Chancellor.
Other Principal Officers at the ceremony included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Deji Agboola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Charles Adekoya, University Librarian, Dr Adebambo Oduwole, and Bursar, Mr. Semiu Makinde, while Provosts, Deans, Heads of Departments and other University functionaries also witnessed the epochal event organised in both physical and virtual forms due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
