Victor Ayodeji Akinpelumi: 2023

Tuesday, 18 April 2023

AAUA Orientates New Students, Harps on Hardwork, Adherence to Laws

AAUA Orientates New Students, Harps on Hardwork, Adherence to Laws

New students admitted to various degree programmes of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, for the 2022/2023 Academic Session have been advised to get their acts right and pursue excellence early so as to excel in their academic pursuit.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, gave the advice on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, while declaring open, a four-day Orientation Programme, organized for the students by the Counselling and Human Development Unit of the Student Affairs Division.

The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olusegun Akinwunmi, urged the students to make good use of the opportunity of their admission by being studious and eschew anti-social vices.

While congratulating them on scaling the rigorous and competitive admission process, he called on them to be good ambassadors of AAUA and pay attention to various talks and seminars to be delivered in the course of the orientation.

He said the essence of the exercise was to familiarize the students with the new environment with its new set of rules, culture and people, even as he urged them to freely relate with the Student Affairs Division; and add value to the name and image of the University.

He advised the students to prioritise their primary reason for being in the University, while warning against keeping bad and corrupting company, possession and consumption of dangerous drugs, prostitution, indecent dressing and other acts capable of determining their studentship.

In his Welcome Address, the Dean of Students, Prof. Olusegun Akanbi, urged the students to make good use of the opportunity of gaining admission to one of the best universities in the country.

He said the Student Affairs Division has been positioned to monitor and ensure the welfare of students both within and outside the university campus, and also help in the registration of safe and affordable hostel accommodation in the host communities.

He spelt out the do's and don'ts which include examination misconduct, cult-related activities, co-habitation, unruly behaviour, indecent dressing and so on.

He advised the students to remain focused and aim for high grades and to justify their admission to the University.

Several speakers from both within and outside the University were on the ground to speak on various aspects of varsity life, the expected challenges and how to overcome them, as well as on where to seek help.

In his Welcome Address, the Dean of Students, Prof. Olusegun Akanbi, urged the students to make good use of the opportunity of gaining admission to one of the best universities in the country.

He spelt out the do's and don'ts which include examination misconduct, cult-related activities, co-habitation, unruly behaviour, indecent dressing and so on.

He advised the students to remain focused and aim for high grades and to justify their admission to the University.

Tuesday, 7 March 2023

Mama Akeredolu, A Shinning Virtuous Matriarch – AAUA VC

The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, has described the late mother of the State Governor, Lady Evangelist Grace Akeredolu, as an excellent mother with a righteous and loving heart and an exemplary virtuous grandmother.

In a Condolence Letter, on behalf of the Management, Staff and Students of the University, Prof. Ige commiserated with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his entire family over the demise of the matriarch describing her death as irreparable loss.

The VC said, “Though it was such a painful exit, nevertheless our consolation is in the fact that Mama had lived an exemplary life and she is being survived by highly responsible and enviable children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who are capable of keeping her good legacies.

“No doubt, Mama was an excellent mother with a righteous and loving heart. Her demise at this period will definitely be challenging, considering her roles as a matriarch, a confidant and a shining example of a virtuous woman. Her death indubitably will leave a huge vacuum which only time, her fond memories and the Lord Almighty can fill.”

He assured the Governor and the family of the thoughts and prayers of the University community.

He specially prayed God to console the entire family and give them the fortitude and the strength to deal with this great loss, and grant Mama eternal rest and put her soul where the righteous rest.

AAUA Needs Special Funding Intervention - Pro-Chancellor

- VC Seeks Support of Council Members

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, has promised a renewed effort to convince the government to bend over backwards to increase its funding of the University.

Dr. Abayomi made the promise in an exclusive interview with the Information Unit of the University after the Inaugural Meeting of the 7th Governing Council on Tuesday, October 4, 2022.

Noting that the impact of inadequate funding on a university cannot be over-emphasised, the Pro-Chancellor said, "Not even double of what we get from the government is sufficient and we all know why. But as a Council, we will continue to impact on the government to improve on the funding, especially on the special needs of the University."

Dr. Abayomi noted that the 7th Council would, among other things, focus on how to make the Business School function maximally; expand the University in terms of new programmes; improve academic rating for global relevance; and enhanced staff welfare.

The Pro-Chancellor said that his second coming as Pro-Chancellor would enable him to contribute more to the development of the University and the state at large.

He urged staff members to double their commitment and dedication to their duties, and to deepen cooperation with Management in order to engender a University everyone can be proud of.

In his words, "I call on everyone to put in more efforts to move the Institution forward. We should produce research papers that would be referenced globally and, thus, improve the global rating of Adekunle Ajasin University.

"We should not be satisfied with being the Best State University, but one of the very best of all varsities in Nigeria and in Africa. That should be a legacy we all should pursue and bequeath to future generations."

Speaking on how he fared during his first term in office, the Council Chair said, "I had good working relationships with members of Council and members of the University community, which, of course, helped us to achieve some feats. Our major achievement at the 6th Council is the building of our world-class Business School in Akure that was inaugurated early this year by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN."

Earlier at the Inaugural Meeting, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, had sought the support of the 7th Governing Council to achieve the set goals for the University.

He said, "As Management, we seek your support and cooperation to deepen our academic activities and integrity through purposeful teaching and robust research; continuously upgrade our academic support facilities; improve on our Internally-Generated Revenue; rebrand and promote the image of the University; improve on staff and students' welfare, including security of lives and property; foster healthy industrial relations with staff unions; and advance community service and engagement."

AAUA Resumes Academic Activities

The Management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, has announced October 17, 2022, as resumption date for academic activities for the Second Semester of the 2020/2021 academic session, following the suspension of industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

The Registrar of the University, Mr. Olugbenga Arajulu, in a statement, said, “The University Senate has directed that the University be reopened for academic activities on 17th October, 2022. All students are, therefore, expected to resume for the Second semester 2020/2021 academic session on 17th October, 2022.”

The statement reads further, “Upon resumption, students who are yet to pay their school fees or had made part-payment are required to pay up their outstanding school fees and complete registration of courses for the Second semester 2020/2021 academic session instantly. Students who had paid fully should also register for their courses as lectures will commence immediately, and registration for courses will close by midnight Saturday, 19th November, 2022.

The Registrar, on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga lge, welcomed all the students back to campus and wished them success in their studies.

AAUA VC Lauds TETFund’s Interventions in Infrastructural, Academic Growth

The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, has praised the interventions of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in boosting pedagogy among the academia as well as enhancing Infrastructural development in tertiary institutions in the country.

He noted that infrastructural decay would have taken a toll on most institutions of higher learning in the country if not for the interventions of the agency, adding that members of the academia would have struggled in terms of book and research publications if TETFund had not chosen to shoulder the financial responsibilities of such exercises.

The Vice Chancellor stated these on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, while receiving a team from TETFund that was in the University on an Academic-Manuscripts-to-Book visit aimed at ascertaining the genuineness of the manuscripts and authorship of three books written by Prof. Sola Owonibi of the Department of English Studies of the University.

Publication of the books was sponsored by TETFund, while copies were meant to be given out free-of-charge to libraries, schools and other repositories in the country.

The published works were English translations of popular Yoruba novels and plays. They are: Chief Gaa – a translation of Bayo Faleti’s Basorun Gaa; The Tight Game – a translation of Akinwumi Isola’s O Le Ku; and Delusion of Grandeur – a translation of Oladejo Okediji’s Aja Lo Leru.

Speaking for the TETFund, Mrs. Olufunke Okonofua (the team leader), said their assignment in the University was to ascertain the genuineness of the claim of the author in order to justify the funding of the project by the intervention agency. She urged other members of the academia to take advantage of opportunities available to them via TETFund interventions and sponsorships.

AAUA Appoints Deputy Vice-Chancellors

The Governing Council of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, at its 80th Regular Meeting on Friday, December 9, 2022, ratified the appointment of new Deputy Vice-Chancellors for the Institution. They are Professor Adebisi Daramola (Administration) and Professor Olusegun Akinwumi (Academic).

The duo had emerged after their nominations alongside two other professors for election by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, during the 177th Regular Senate Meeting of the University on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Prof. Daramola obtained a Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) in 1977 at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo; earned a Bachelor of Education degree in Guidance and Counselling from University of Ibadan in 1981; got a Master of Education degree in Guidance and Counselling from University of Ibadan in 1984 and bagged a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from the then Ondo State University, Ado – Ekiti, now Ekiti State University in 1993.

Prof. Daramola, who was among the staffers that relocated to AAUA from the then Ondo State University, Ado – Ekiti, in 1999, joined the services of the University at Ado-Ekiti, in 1989 as a lecturer II. He rose through the rank to become a Professor of Counselling Psychology in 2005.

He had, at different times, served the University in over 50 administrative and academic capacities, including Dean, Faculty of Arts and Education; Dean, Postgraduate School; Dean, Student Affairs; Chairman, AAUA/Akungba Community Relations Committee; and Director, University Linkages and International Programmes Office.

Prof. Daramola, the pioneer Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, AAUA branch, was an external examiner/assessor to nine local and foreign universities. While he has published three books, he has written chapters inmany books; and has over 30 articles in both local and international journals. He has presented over 15 seminars/public lectures; and attended over 23 local and international conferences.

Prof. Daramola belongs to many professional bodies, such as Counseling Association of Nigeria (CASSON); Chairman, Nigerian Association of Educational Psychologists (NAEP); World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (WCGTC), U.S.A; International Federation for Psychotherapy (IFP) Germany; Nigerian Association of Educational Research and Evaluation (NAERE); Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN); Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (AIPM); Luminaries of Professional Educators of Nigeria (LUPEN); and Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria (NIIA)

He is a recipient of many honours and awards, including Best Postgraduate Student Award Ondo State University; Man of the Year 2004, American Biographical Institute, U.S.A; First Ph.D Graduate, Ondo State University, Ado Ekiti; Honorary Doctor of Divinity (DD) Asland University, Ohio, U.S.A. 2002; and Fellow, Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria (IIAN).

He hails from Ondo in Ondo West Local Government, Ondo State. He is happily married with children and affable wife.

Prof. Akinwumi obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Calabar in 1984; proceeded to the University of Ibadan and the Federal University of Technology, Akure, where he bagged a Master’s degree in Zoology (Fisheries and Hydrobiology) and a Ph.D. in Fish Post-Harvest Technology in 1991 and 2006, respectively.

He joined the services of then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti, in 1998 as a lecturer II and moved to AAUA in 1999, rising through the rank to become a Professor in 2015.

He has served in over 50 academic and administrative positions in the University, including Head, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology; Chairman, Ceremonies Committee; Chairman, AAUA Committee on Public Lecture Series; pioneer Vice Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, AAUA branch; and Chairman, University’s Farm Management Committee.

Prof. Akinwumi is the immediate Dean, Faculty of Science, and a member representing the University Congregation on the University Governing Council.

Prof. Akinwumi has published seven books; edited three others, and has 27 articles published in reputable local and international journals.

Prof. Akinwumi, who had undergone various leadership trainings globally, including at the famous Galilee International Management Institute, Israel (2015), and the Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Datong, China (2007), has 12 published conference abstracts and presentations.

Prof. Akinwumi is a winner of many research grants, awards and prizes including the Federal Government Postgraduate (M.Sc.) Scholarship (1990), Ondo State Government Postgraduate (Ph.D.) Scholarship (2001), and the University Research grant in 2005 and 2011.

He has membership of several professional bodies among which are: Fisheries Society of Nigeria; Entomological Society of Nigeria; Zoological Society of Nigeria; and Science Association of Nigeria.

Prof. Akinwumi who is happily married with children and amiable wife hails from Akure, in Akure South Local Government, Ondo State.

PRIORITIZE FUNDING AND STAFF WELFARE IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

Let me congratulate all members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) for bidding year 2022 farewell successfully, a year of torment and hunger. We shall never forget year 2022 in a hurry. God has confirmed through the happenings in year 2022 that He is our sustenance and provider.

We are entering the new year with arrears of salaries ranging between 4 and 10 months in Ondo State Tertiary institutions. Almost four years after the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage in Nigeria, none of the tertiary institutions in our Ondo State has implemented it for its workforce. Are we not part of Nigeria anymore?

Underfunding is the hallmark of all the tertiary institutions in Ondo State comprising of three state-owned Universities and a Polytechnic, yet, the establishment of a fourth University is almost a done deal. Is our problem establishment of Universities or improving the funding of the existing ones? Our Governor should help the existing universities to compete favourably with other sisters' universities worldwide.

At the Federal level, government is doing everything humanly possible to 'kill' public universities because government officials can conveniently send their wards to private universities and even abroad! Why will a reasonable government that failed in its responsibilities punished the workers with no work, no pay? It is unfortunate that university education is sitting on gunpowder.

Only government can guarantee a stable academic calendar for the public universities in the new year. It is a fact that since the various Unions in Nigerian Universities suspended their industrial action, re-negotiation has also stopped! Our political leaders do not want the children of the masses to have a better future.

The failure of Federal Government to pay all the withhold salaries of our members cannot guarantee stable calendar. Do not allow our students to witness another year 2022 episode in year 2023.

We as SSANU members love peace and will do everything possible to maintain peace but the only antidote to peace in Nigerian universities is adequate funding.

Thank you.

*Comrade Tayo Ogungbeni*

Chairman, SSANU-AAUA / Chairman, JAC-ODSTI

AAUA Set for Matriculation Ceremony

No fewer than 1,175 newly-admitted students to the Institute of Part Time Programmes (IPTP) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, will take Matriculation Oath on Thursday, February 2, 2023.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admin.), Prof. Adebisi Daramola, made this known on Thursday, January 26, 2023, while speaking with the Information Unit of the University.

Ahead of the Matriculation Ceremony, Prof. Daramola, who is also the Chairman of the University Ceremonies Committee, stressed the inevitability of the ceremony to all the new students, saying, “Whoever fails to take and sign the Matriculation Oath would be sanctioned.”

He noted that the 2021/22 and 2022/23 sets of students from the Institute would formally become bonafide members of the University Community through the Matriculation Ceremony.

He said, “We have made it clear that any student who fails to sign the Matriculation Oath and register will face severe sanctions as the Matriculation Ceremony is compulsory for new students; it is their initiation into the University system.

“We are ready for what will be a colourful event. We have made all the necessary arrangements as we expect the matriculants to come with their friends and familymembers. In total, we are expecting 1, 175 students from our IPTP centres; and the Matriculation Ceremony is for the sets of 2021/22 and the 2022/23 academic sessions.”

The ceremony, which would hold in the University Multipurpose Hall at 10:00am, will be chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, while the Institution's Registrar, Mr. Olugbenga Arajulu, would administer the Matriculation Oath on the students.

Students are expected to have been seated by 9:30am

Eschew Vices, Focus on Studies, Prof. Ige Urges New Students

The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, has counselled the newly-admitted students to the Institution’s Institute of Part-Time Programmes (IPTP), to guard their admission jealously by focusing on their studies and eschewing all forms of vices.

Prof. Ige gave the advice while addressing the students at the Matriculation Ceremony for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 Academic Sessions held in the University Multipurpose Hall on Thursday, February 2, 2023.

The VC said, “Our newly-matriculated students, you should count yourselves providential to have been admitted to AAUA because out of the huge number of applicants that sought admission to our Institute of Part Time Programmes (IPTP), only 1,175 were admitted. Therefore, your admission is a no mean achievement, having scaled the rigorous but fair hurdles of the admission exercise.

“As a result, I congratulate you on being accepted into the prestigious class of university undergraduates. You must, however, guard this valuable attainment of yours jealously by focusing on your studies and eschewing all forms vices.”

He reiterated that the University has several times been rated the best among state varsities in the country and one of the most sought after nationally.

The VC, who noted that the University has produced several graduates who have become giants in all walks of life, and who, today, have become change agents in the society, said, “All eyes are on you to join this enviable rank of our distinguished, competent and confident graduates who have made us proud.”

He urged them to abide by the rules and regulations guiding their studentship.

“Our University is strictly governed by standard norms and values, and the university will not tolerate any antisocial behaviour and character that may contravene or contradict the laid down rules and regulations. Incidents of cultism, rape, examination misconduct, indecent dressing, sexual harassment and the likes will not be tolerated. Anyone caught in these misconducts stands the risk of losing his/her studentship”, the VC warned.

The Registrar of the University, Mr. Olugbenga Ararjulu, had earlier administered the Matriculation Oath on the students.