Makinde was conferred with Doctor of Science in Engineering (Honoris Causa), Wike, Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) and Sanwo-Olu, Doctor of Public Administration (Honoris Causa). Speaking on behalf of the trio at the 14th convocation of the university, held at its Oyo campus, Makinde thanked the institution for its contributions to the development of the state.
“I came in as an ordinary engineer. Now my colleagues and I are going out with doctorate degrees. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the graduates of today and yesterday. Today is majorly for PhD graduates. What you have is the peak of academic qualification.
“So, for most of you, it is a journey to taking a very big leap because some of you are not going to come back to school, you will join us in the real world. Because in the controlled environment here, you can basically predict how things will go but when you come out there, it is a different ballgame.
“You should be ready to take on further responsibilities, whatever your plans are. This university has done its part to give you the necessary academic and moral training. So, as you leave, you will always remember where you are coming from.
“Let me say that this university has contributed immensely to the development of our state. The chairman of the road maintenance agency is an alumnus of this university. Before he came on board, they were abusing me that we were not paying attention to the inner roads. Since he came, the abuse has stopped,” he said.
The university also awarded various categories of graduands, including 1,547 graduates who bagged Bachelor of Science degrees, 583 who bagged postgraduate degrees and 34 who bagged doctorate degrees.
The Vice-chancellor of the institution, Professor Timothy Adebayo, noted that 41 students graduated with first class honours.
He urged the graduates to be self-reliant and not to stop learning as knowledge is a continuous adventure. He also announced that the school has got the approval of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to run nursing degree programme, adding that it is a step towards having more courses on offer in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences which will, in no distant time, midwife the birth of the College of Medicine.
Earlier, the Chairman, Supra Diocesan Board (West), Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Revered (Dr) Joseph Akinfenwa, who was represented at the event, urged Nigerians to elect credible leaders in the next election.
Akinfenwa said: “As we approach the 2023 elections, we seize the opportunity of this occasion to plead with Nigerians to elect only credible and competent persons into leadership positions. If we do this, things will turn around for good, and our nation shall become better for all of us.”
The chancellor of the university, Chief Tunde Afolabi, lamented the present state of universities in the country as they battle with poor funding and lack of subventions, lack of required teaching facilities and expertise and commitment operational research, weak students’ competencies and lack of good performance in overstretched environment with a population explosion.
The pro-chancellor and outgoing chairman of the Governing Council of the institution, Chief Wole Olanipekun, announced the decision of the authorities of the school to appoint the Treasurer, Supra Diocesan Board (West), Dr Olutoyin Okeowo, as the next chairman of the council.
The convocation ceremonies that took place on Thursday and Friday were preceded by the inauguration of projects, including the Wole Olanipekun Multipurpose Lecture Halls, a civil engineering workshop, new cafeteria at the Offa Meta campus, equipping of the Medical Science and Nursing laboratories, the Imaging Laboratory Complex of the Radiography and Radiation Science programme, among others.