Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
The acting Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) Ijagun, Prof Oluwole Banjo on Tuesday, disclosed that all is set to hold a colourful and memorable 12th convocation of the school on Saturday and Sunday during when the institution will confer Honourary Doctorate Degrees on the Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remo land, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewa land, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and Chairman of Airtel, Mr Segun Ogunsanya.
Prof Oluwole Banjo also disclosed that 4,886 graduands would be confered with first degrees out of which 51 graduated first class while 1,001 were part time students.
He revealed further that a total number of 483 students would equally bag various postgraduate degrees of the institution.
The Vice Chancellor made this disclosure at a press briefing held at the university to announce the kick off the one week convocation programme.
Prof Banjo said that while the convocation and award of prizes for the first degree graduands holds on Saturday, the grand finale of the event comprising of convocation’s lecture, conferment of various postgraduate degrees as well as Honourary Doctorate Degrees on Oba Babatunde Ajayi, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and the Airtel boss, Segun Ogunsanya holds on Sunday.
The Vice Chancellor disclosed that it is the tradition of the university to always appreciate those who are supporting the course of humanity and development saying that this informed its decision to award the Honourary Doctorate Degrees on the two royal fathers as well as the Airtel boss.
He described the university as being very unique and the first to have ensured that in addition to whatever course of study of the student, it is also mandatory that he or she from 100 level pick a vocation which could be fishery, carpentary, tailoring among others and get certificated over it at the end of his or her degree programme.
Prof. Banjo revealed further that other universities had also come around to adopt this approach as it has greatly helped many graduates of the school not to only be gainfully employed but to also be employers of labour.
Speaking on the recent altercation some students of the university allegedly said to be into cyber crime popularly called ‘yahoo yahoo’ had with some military personnel, the VC said the incident happened outside the campus of the institution.
He said from what he learnt the military later handed over some of the students to the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and that some of them if not all were also said to have been released.
He said due to the avoidable nuisance being constituted by these few bad eggs, the students now clock in and out while none of them is allowed entrance into the school with a personal vehicle.
The VC said the university had always strengthen its security architecture by meeting regularly with all the relevant stakeholders and ensure all matters relating to protecting the university community are given prompt attention.
He declared that just as it is globally, funding has been a challenge but the university’s management coupled with government support and that of Tetfund has been making judicious use of the scarce resources to move the university forward.
Prof Banjo said all the programmes, both undergraduate and postgraduate of the university with five colleges had also been fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The week long programme which commenced on Sunday with interdenominational service at TASUED Christian Chapel continued tomorrow, Wednesday with drama and exhibition, the VC final football match is slated for Thursday while the university will hold Special Jumat service on Friday.
The first degree graduands hold their convocation on Saturday while the grand finale and award of postgraduate degrees among others is scheduled for Sunday.
Principal officers of the university present during the press briefing were the Librarian, Mrs Oyesiku, the acting Registrar Mr Dapo Oke, the acting Bursar, Mr Abdullahi Oluwabunmi, the Deputy Registrar, Media and Corporate Relations, Barr Gbenga Omilola among others.