All roads that led to Atiba University in Oyo town were jam-packed as eminent Nigerians, including traditional rulers, captains of industries, academia, and the crème de la crème of society, converged on the institution on Saturday, November 25, for its maiden convocation.
However, a day earlier, on Friday, November 24, a press conference was held at the school premises, where it was disclosed that not less than 197 students would be graduating during the convocation ceremony.
According to the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Okeniyi, dignitaries will be present at the event across the country.
Okeniyi, speaking shortly after the investiture of the institution’s Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa, Emir of Keffi, and Oba Adekunle Oyedeji, Eburu of Ibaland, respectively, which was part of the week-long activities for the convocation, said five of the graduates will graduate with first-class honours.
He stated that the graduates came from the Faculties of Agricultural Sciences, art, Social and Management Sciences, Health Sciences, Education, Natural and Applied Sciences, and law.
He said the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security in Borno State would deliver the convocation lecture on internal security and climate change.
On convocation day, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Okeniyi, in his remarks, urged graduands of the institution always to be good ambassadors of the school and be the torchbearers for the future, stating that the knowledge they have acquired while in the institution must be a guiding light to their journey in life.
He added that graduates must uphold the institution’s values of integrity, excellence, and commitment. He called on them to allow their education-acquired impact to be a beacon of hope for a future filled with purpose and effect.
Okeniyi described the convocation ceremony as a celebration of knowledge, resilience, and the transformative power of education, noting that the institution is keeping with global universities’ traditions and best international practices of holding annual academic events when they are due.
He said, “Today, we proudly graduate 178 degree students, 57 higher diploma recipients, and 62 diploma awardees. Among these outstanding individuals, we recognise five first-class graduates, 126 second-class upper-class graduates, and 21 notable students on the pass list for nursing science.
“The 2020/2021 set contributed 18 graduates; the 2021/2022 set marked a significant increase with 50 graduates; and finally, the 2022/2023 set has set a new record with an impressive 109 graduates.”
For his part, Oba Adekunle Adeogun-Okunoye, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the governing council of Atiba University said Nigerians should expect the best from the institution, where future leaders are prepared for the country’s development and progress.
In the meantime, Dr. James Ojebode, the founder of Atiba University, has described its establishment as a service to humanity and expressed joy that an event like the institution’s convocation occurred in his lifetime.
He, however, said the institution’s next convocation, by God’s grace, would take place at its permanent site.
Speaking during an interview with Apreel1 Events TV, some of the awardees and graduands lauded the university’s governing council for a job well done in taking the university to a greater height. In contrast, the Founder, Pro-Chancellor, and Vice Chancellor of the university thanked all the dignitaries that graced the occasion.
