The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure, Professor Adenike Oladiji has urged students to abstain from any actions or behaviors that could tarnish the image of the University and imperil their academic journey. She stated this during the combined matriculation ceremony for fresh students of the School of Professional Development, Top-Up and Open and Distance Learning Programs for 2024/25 Academic session The event held on Wednesday,30th April 2025 at the TI Francis auditorium.
While congratulating the matriculating Students, Professor Oladiji, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor , Academic , Professor Taiwo Amos emphasized the importance of discipline, integrity, and commitment to academic excellence, stressing that every student, as an ambassador of FUTA , should uphold the institution values at all times. She stated that, “Upon completion of their program, one of the official remarks that would be made is that you have been found worthy in character and learning, character is as important to the academic community as the academic exploits.”
She noted that the event is a particularly important milestone in their journey towards earning a degree. She reiterated that only after taking the matriculation oath and signing the matriculation register can they be identified as bonafide students of FUTA saying “ In all modesty it’s a great thing to be a FUTARIAN as the university has built an enviable image for itself over the years in the comity of Nigerian Universities as the beast University of Technology for over two decades.”
According to Oladiji, ”the position of FUTA as a leading research-intensive institution with global relevance and recognition is without doubt a number of its Faculty members and Alumni continue to excel in different areas of endeavour including being ranked in the Top 2% scientist in the world according to the report released by Elsevier/Stanford University, USA in September 2024.”
Professor Oladiji said the programs were created to open more opportunities of University education to Nigerians and non-Nigerians without regard to race or creed. According to the Vice Chancellor, the Students Affairs Division is always available to guide the students on the do’s and donts and in addition a Students handbook would be made available to every matriculated student.
She urged them to share the vision of the University, which is to be a world class University of Technology and a center of excellence in training, research and service delivery and also imbibe its core values which are encapsulated in the acronym I-CARE.
Three hundred and sixty-five (365) students matriculated for the Top up programs,72 candidates for the ODL programme and 80 matriculants for the School of Professional Development. Professor Fakokunde , Director School of Professional Development , Professor Alao , Director , Open and Distance Learning Programme and Dr Akinwonmi , Acting Director Top Up programme presented their respective students for the Matriculation oath administered by the registrar , Mr. Charles Adeleye.