Covenant University recorded another significant milestone in its annal history as alumna, Dr. (Mrs.) Aderonke Atinuke Oni of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences became the first Eagle (graduate of the University) to attain the rank of full professor of Covenant University.
Professor Oni, a pioneer graduate of Management Information Systems (MIS) class of 2006, was among the 15 faculty of the institution whose promotion to the professorial cadre (10 full professors and five associate professors) was recently announced by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abiodun H. Adebayo, following the approval of its Board of Regents. According to the Vice-Chancellor, their elevation was also the outcome of a rigorous promotion exercise carried out by the University’s Appointment and Promotions Committee (A&PC) for the 2022/2023 Academic Session and validated by External Assessors. Also promoted were 22 faculty members who moved from Lecturer I to Senior Lecturer cadre and 14 others who moved from Lecturer II to Lecturer I.
The Chancellor, Dr David Oyedepo, who met the new professors before the announcement, advised them to maintain their drive for success but should remain consistent in learning, research, value-adding and providing solutions to keep their minds young. According to the Chancellor, “Biography centres on value added. Anyone who stops learning is old. Anyone who keeps learning is young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. New findings refresh people.”
He further encouraged them to aspire for new goals and accomplishments, “Find a new book to write, new research endeavours, and new findings to make, as there cannot be a global impact without paying a global price.”
“I don’t think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday. To be a professor is to profess knowledge in any subject matter. You have the right to create knowledge. Do the right work and make each day count. Everybody that has a sense of mission wants to save time. Time economy is vital,” he opined.
The Vice-Chancellor, who equally congratulated the professors for achieving significant career feats, enjoined them to avoid complacency and strive for greater accomplishments and assured them of management support in their future teaching and research endeavours. He also encouraged them to leverage on the annual One Billion Naira research grants from the University’s Board of Regents to engage in cutting-edge research and create real-life solutions.
The meeting, marked by a celebratory atmosphere, honoured the academic achievements of the newly promoted senior faculty members, and representatives from each college were invited to make remarks on behalf of their counterparts.
In her remarks, Professor Aderonke Oni, who joined the faculty of the University in 2007 as a graduate assistant immediately after her National Youth Service (NYSC) and rose through the academic ladder to become an associate professor of MIS in 2021, gave all the glory to God for the achievement and appreciated the University for the opportunity to grow, and thrive, and prayed for the grace to work harder, to make more significant impact going forward.
Professor Olatokunbo Ofuyatan from the College of Engineering expressed her appreciation, attributing her success to hard work and divine favour, and encouraged her colleagues to remain diligent.
Representing the College of Leadership Development Studies, Professor Moses Duruji thanked Covenant University Management for creating a platform focused on staff development. He urged the administration to continue creating avenues for improvement in the future.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olujide Adekeye, who also congratulated the promotion beneficiaries, reminded them that higher positions come with greater responsibilities. Therefore, he advised them to maintain their diligence, warning against complacency and emphasised that continuous hard work and learning are essential for success.
Others in attendance include the Registrar, Mrs Regina Tobi-David; the Deans of Colleges; the newly appointed Professors and Associate Professors and other promoted Lecturers.
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