By Adedotun Ajayi and Adeboye Ado

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has been conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Public Administration (honoris causa) by the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).

The conferment took place on Saturday during the university’s 13th Convocation Ceremony at the Olusegun Obasanjo Multipurpose Hall.

The award recognised the governor’s significant contributions to the development of Ondo State, particularly in governance, public administration, and human capital development.

Expressing gratitude, Governor Aiyedatiwa dedicated the honour to the people of Ondo State and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to advancing education and sustainable development in the state.

“To the new Honorary Awardees who have just been conferred with an honorary doctorate from Adekunle Ajasin University, I extend my warmest congratulations. I am highly honoured and delighted to be one of you. This prestigious recognition is a testament to our remarkable contributions and outstanding achievements in our various fields,” the governor said.

He applauded the institution for its role in producing graduates who have made significant contributions to the state’s workforce and socio-economic development.

The governor highlighted AAUA’s achievements in education and research on both national and international platforms, commending the institution for its dedication to excellence.

“This convocation symbolizes the release of another set of trained and qualified individuals poised to contribute meaningfully to society,” he said.

Governor Aiyedatiwa also emphasised his administration’s dedication to funding education, citing key interventions in state-owned institutions such as the allocation of ₦1 billion to the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, and ₦1.2 billion to Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, for infrastructural development.

He pledged continued support to AAUA, particularly in implementing the newly-approved minimum wage and enhancing infrastructure.

“As a government, we are committed to ensuring that Adekunle Ajasin University continues to thrive. We will sustain and enhance our support to ensure it remains competitive and innovative, producing the calibre of graduates that Ondo State and Nigeria need to excel in the 21st century.

“I am fully aware of the challenges faced by this university, particularly in the areas of funding, infrastructure, and staff welfare. As an administration, we are determined to address these issues to the best of our ability,” he added.

Addressing the graduands, the governor urged them to uphold the values of integrity, diligence, and excellence acquired during their studies.

“Education is a powerful tool and with it comes the responsibility to contribute meaningfully to society. Whether as entrepreneurs, professionals or academics, let your actions reflect the training and principles you have received from Adekunle Ajasin University,” he said.

Governor Aiyedatiwa reiterated his administration’s vision of fostering independent, well-funded institutions that drive societal change, stressing the government’s commitment to building a sustainable future for AAUA and other educational institutions in Ondo State.

The Vice-Chancellor of AAUA, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, commended Governor Aiyedatiwa’s leadership, describing him as a statesman devoted to the socio-economic advancement of the state.

He noted the institution’s academic achievements, stating, “At this 13th Convocation, we are proud to present a total of 6,837 graduands from the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions. This number includes 657 postgraduate students, among whom 46 have earned their Ph.D. degrees. Among the 6,182 undergraduate graduands, 62 achieved First Class Honours, a testament to the academic excellence upheld by this institution.

“Additionally, 1,941 earned Second Class Honours (Upper Division), 3,486 attained Second Class Honours (Lower Division), 684 graduated with Third Class Honours, and 8 fall into the Pass category.”

Prof. Ige emphasised that the honorary doctorate conferred on Governor Aiyedatiwa recognised his transformative contributions to education, infrastructure, and youth empowerment in Ondo State.

In his welcome address, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, congratulated the graduands for their dedication and hard work. He lauded AAUA’s reputation as the best state university in Nigeria and one of the top 10 universities in the country.

Dr. Abayomi also praised Governor Aiyedatiwa’s leadership, congratulating him on his recent electoral victory, and called for stakeholders’ support to elevate AAUA to global standards.

Earlier, the governor performed the groundbreaking and foundation-laying ceremony for a new hall of residence. The Vice-Chancellor revealed that 95% of the university’s student population resides off-campus, creating security challenges. The new hall of residence, with a capacity of 250 beds, aims to address this issue.

Other honorary doctorate awardees included Hon. Adegboyega Adeyemi Adefarati, a member of the House of Representatives representing Akoko South East/South West, and Mr. Hazmat Ayodele Subair.